Mom To The Power Of Three

Great Home Security Tip

2013-02-16T06:45:00.000-05:00

I was listening to a local radio station the other morning and there was a policewoman talking about home security and how to prevent break-ins while you are away. She gave one particular tip that I had never thought of or even heard of before. Her advice was to put your house number on the back of your house as well so that neighbours along the back of your property can immediately report a break in because they can see your house number. If you take a look at the neighbours behind your house, chances are you know the street name that they are on but you don't know the number. Think of how this would assist the police in an emergency. It would save lots of time because they wouldn't have to search for the house.

This is the time of year where people like to get away over the winter and I thought this was an excellent tip to share.

In The Wrong Lane!

2012-08-29T06:58:00.001-04:00

I went to the grocery store early Sunday morning to grab a couple of things and headed to the express lane. I stopped short when I saw a woman checking out of that lane with a full cart of groceries. This is one of my biggest pet peeves. To top that off, the grocery store that I was at will match a sale price of a different grocery store if you bring in their flyer. Well, this woman had a handful of flyers and the checkout clerk had to check almost every item against the flyers so that the woman could get the sale price. This was taking forever. Finally, as the checkout line grew bigger, the manager opened up a regular checkout line to service the annoyed express customers.

I think it is very inconsiderate to even think about going through the express lane with a full cart of groceries. I am also surprised that the checkout clerk didn't tell the woman to go to a different lane. In any event, the woman was still going through her flyers and occupying the lane when I left. Some things just really make you shake your head...

Bumbo Seat Recall

2012-08-15T16:53:00.001-04:00

I was disappointed to hear on the radio today that the bumbo seat has been recalled. I used one of these for my younger son in 2005 and I absolutely loved it! The chair allowed him to be in a sitting position before he was strong enough to sit unassisted. It gave him another perspective of play. I do remember however that he was only able to use it for a few months because he became too strong for it and was able to move around.

The reason for the recall is that some babies have wiggled out of the seats and have fallen and suffered skull fractures. I think that the chair is safe if the child is supervised and placed on the floor only. Apparently some people have placed the chair on high surfaces such as counters and tables. People should never underestimate the strength of their baby and its ability to move around.

The manufacturer of Bumbo is sending out a repair kit to those who fill out a form on their website. The repair kit includes new warning stickers and a restraint belt with installation instructions. Hopefully people will be able to install the belts properly. If you need to order your repair kit please click here.

All seats manufactured after today will have the restraint belts installed. To read CBC's report of the recall, please click here.

Who's That Waitress?

2012-08-11T13:08:00.001-04:00

Have you ever watched a movie a few times and found some little things you missed the first time you watched it? I am not a huge movie buff but if I come across a great one I will watch it more than once. Last night I watched Erin Brokovich, starring Julia Roberts, which is one of my favorite movies. There is a scene at the beginning of the movie where Julia Roberts (playing Erin) has taken her kids out to eat. I had no idea until last night that the waitress who served her in that scene is the real Erin Brokovich. I have seen the movie about 5 times and never noticed that before. I thought it was a neat twist that she would have a cameo in the film. I wonder how many people realized that it was actually her?

I have included the clip below in case you would like to see it.

Pioneer Pancakes - Easy Recipe

2012-08-05T10:20:00.000-04:00

This is a very easy pancake recipe and requires very little ingredients. My son likes to make these.

Ingredients:

1 cup flour
2 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp baking powder
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 cup milk
3 tbsp melted butter

How to Prepare:

1. Mix together flour, sugar and baking powder in a large bowl.
2. Beat together eggs, milk and melted butter in a small bowl.
3. Add liquid mixture to dry ingredients and stir. You can add fruit at this point.
4. Over medium heat, melt some butter in a frying pan and pour in batter. You can determine whatever size pancake you like.
5. When the pancake begins to bubble and the edges turn brown, flip and cook the other side.

Serve with yummy maple syrup!

How to Make Baby Shower Washcloth Lollipops

2012-08-03T07:00:00.003-04:00

Learn how to make these adorable baby shower washcloth lollipops from my ebook. The lollipops make a great baby shower gift on their own or you can put them into diaper cakes, bouquets, or diaper wreaths. This ebook is written by me and includes step by step instructions including pictures on how to assemble them and where to find the best deals on the materials. They are so fun to make!

The ebook will be sent to you in pdf form once you purchase it. The cost is $2.00 CDN. Please advise of the email address you would like the ebook sent to.

Reporting Stolen Bank or Credit Cards

2012-07-27T11:13:00.001-04:00

I have attached a video from ctv news about an elderly lady who lost her wallet which contained a bank card and her health card. Whoever found her wallet figured out her bank code which the bank assumed was the lady's birthdate which the thief found on her health card. $8,800 was taken from her account without her knowing. The lady stated that she had forgotten about the bank card and didn't realize what had happened until the bank contacted her to advise that some cheques had bounced. The lady then explained that she had lost her wallet 6 weeks prior and expected that the bank would reimburse her for the stolen money. However, the bank (Scotiabank) advised that they would not reimburse her because her pin was too easy and that she waited 6 weeks to report her card lost/stolen.

Although I feel very sorry for the lady for losing so much money, I do have to side with the bank that she waited too long to report it lost/stolen. It would be interesting however to see what a judge would say if the lady takes it to court.

This is definitely a lesson that if you lose a bank card, credit card, or any type of identification that it should be reported lost/stolen immediately since the banks will only reimburse for funds stolen after a lost/stolen report is filed. It is also a good idea to keep a list of all of your card numbers and phone numbers of the bank or credit card company on the card so that you can quickly call to report them lost or stolen.

Click here to watch video on sympatico.ca.

Martial Arts For Kids - Fight Bullying

2012-07-26T12:34:00.001-04:00

My 7 year old has been taking jui jitsu lessons for a few months now and he loves it. This martial art is a form of self defense and is great for improving flexibility, concentration, and to build confidence if confronted by a bully. It also teaches kids to be disciplined, hardworking and to show respect. My son just recently received his yellow belt, which is one up from the beginner's white belt. The goal is to practice the defense moves until they become second nature. This is also a great skill for adults to learn and there are many variations to martial arts such as tai-kwon-do, kickboxing, and karate. It is also quite affordable. The only thing you need to purchase to get started is a gi which is the white uniform and belt. I pay a monthly fee and he is able to go 3 to 4 times a week if he wishes.

Window Blind Cleaning Made Easy

2012-04-16T13:23:00.004-04:00

Most of my windows have vinyl blinds and they are always so difficult and time consuming to clean (I don't do it very often). However, a friend of mine recently shared a tip with me on how to easily clean vinyl blinds.

First you find a pair of white cotton gloves. In a small bucket, mix 1 part vinegar to 1 part hot water. Then put the gloves on and dip your fingertips into the vinegar solution and run your fingertips over each slat in the blind. I found that the vinegar solution picked up the dirt easily and made the blinds shiny. This method sped up the cleaning process and I would recommend to anyone to give it a try.

Chantal Kreviazuk

2012-04-13T13:08:00.003-04:00

I recently watched a show on HBO called In This Life - Chantal Kreviazuk with the Niagara Symphony. I was never a big fan of Chantal's until I saw her perform live on this program. She has such an amazing voice and she is very talented on the piano. Her talent paired with the wonderful symphony in the background makes for a spectacular performance. Her songs on the radio don't even compare to her live performance with a symphony! I would love to see her in concert. My 10 year old son is a talented pianist and I hope to be able to take him to see her one day.

In the program she also shares her personal associations with some of the songs she performs. For her song Surrounded, she explained that she lost a good friend at a young age from suicide and that she wrote this song to feel close to all people she knows who have died. The song never made sense to me until I heard her explain it. She closed the show with an emotional and powerful performance of Leaving On A Jet Plane. Again, the song sounded so much better live than the recorded version you hear on the radio.

I have been trying to locate a clip from this show but have not been able to find one so I have posted a video of her song Invicible which is one of my favourites. The boy in the video is actually her son.

How To Read A Grown-Up's Mind

2010-06-29T12:20:00.004-04:00

My son has a book entitled The Encyclopedia of Immaturity and there is a trick in it which children can play on grown-ups. My son did the trick on both my husband and I and it worked both times.

Here is what you do:

Ask a grown-up the following questions. Tell them its part of an important nationwide survey and thank them for participating.

1. Think of some country that starts with D. Don't tell me what it is. (A typical grown-up will think it is Denmark).

2. Take the last letter of that country and think of any animal that starts with it. Again, don't tell me what it is. (A typical grown-up will think kangaroo).

3. Take the last letter of that animal and think of a fruit that starts with it. Don't say anything, just think. (A typical grown-up will think orange).

Finally put your hand on their forehead, close your eyes, and say the following: "Orange...you're thinking of an orange."

Try it out and let me know if it works on others!

Treating Insect Bites and Stings

2010-06-10T09:50:00.009-04:00

Do you know the signs of an allergic reaction to an insect bite or sting? Kids are always playing outside and they will get bitten or stung at some point. Mosquitoes, blackflies, and deerflies or horseflies are the most common bugs to get bitten by in the summer. There is also a chance that your child will get stung by a bee or wasp or get bitten by a spider and you have to keep an eye on them after they have been stung because you never know how they will react to it.

If they happen to get stung by a bee, you must get the stinger out as quickly as possible. You can do this by scraping it with a credit card or carefully picking it out with tweezers if you have a pair handy. Its important to get the stinger out because it contains a poison sac from the bee. If you spread the venom around the wound, the skin will become more irritated. After you have removed the stinger, you can apply some ice to the wound and give your child an antihistamine such as Reactine or Benadryl. If a wasp or any other type of fly, spider or bug bites your child, there will be no stinger left behind. Simply put some ice on the bite and give your child an antihistamine.

There are certain signs to look for to determine if your child is having an allergic reaction:

1. Wheezing or difficulty breathing;
2. Swelling of the lips, tongue or face;
3. Tightness in throat or chest;
4. Dizziness or fainting;
5. Nausea or vomiting.

Your child should seek urgent medical attention if the above symptoms occur.

Your child may have a mild allergic reaction if his/her skin develops red bumps, is itchy, and swells mildly. Itchiness can be treated with calomine lotion.

I have found an instruction sheet for the treatment of insect stings and bites and you can print it off at the link below. This would be a great item to display on your fridge for the summer months.

Insect Stings Help Sheet

How To Coverup Scratches On Dark Hardwood

2010-06-09T12:30:00.002-04:00

I noticed this morning that there are some noticeable scratches on my hardwood around an armchair that sits in my livingroom. It was really bugging me because I don't want to show the house with these visible scratches. So I did some research and came across a great tip on ehow.com. All you need to do is mix a couple of teaspoons of coffee grinds with a small amount of water until it forms into a thick paste. Then carefully rub the paste into the scratches and voila, the scratches are covered up.

This is only a temporary fix however but will do the trick in an emergency. The coffee makes the floor somewhat sticky on the area that I covered but this does not matter because it is under a chair where nobody steps. I will properly fix it when I get some wood stain that matches the colour of my hardwood. Please also remember that coffee only works on dark shades of hardwood.

Favourite Smells Of Summer

2010-06-07T07:58:00.007-04:00

I was sitting on my front porch one afternoon and was surrounded by the smell of freshly cut grass. One of my neighbours had just finished cutting his lawn. This is one of the most invigorating smells after enduring a long cold winter. Some of my other favourite smells of summer are:

Tomato plants
Strawberries
Coconut Suntan Oil/Lotion
Roses
The rain at night
Clothes that have dried in the sunshine
Waffle cones at a fair or carnival
Sweet smell of hay sitting in a farmer's field
Anything being barbequed
Citronella
Campfires
The breeze coming off the lake
Pine trees in the hot sun

Another smell that I will always remember is when I used to sit on my grandma's porch and I could smell the lilacs growing nearby. Such a wonderful memory.

I wish I could bottle these scents to help me get through the long, cold winter.

What's your favourite scent of summer?

Here Today, Gone Tomorrow

2010-06-04T18:30:00.004-04:00

I was reading the local paper this afternoon and I was shocked to find out that an older man who I just spoke with about 2 weeks ago passed away. I would always see him when I picked up my sons from school. He would pick up his grandson, who was in my son's class. I distinctly remember my last conversation with him. He was talking about his grandchildren and seemed very happy and healthy. He was a very nice man and died at the age of 63. I believe he died from a sudden heart attack at his home. He was very close with his grandchildren and I know they will miss him very much. This is just a reminder that there is no guarantee that there will be a tomorrow.

Loathe The Speakerphone

2010-06-02T08:36:00.006-04:00

I am the type of person who normally does not like to talk on the phone. I get very agitated when I make a one on one phone call to someone and they put me on speakerphone. For one thing, you cannot hear someone clearly when they use the speakerphone and it picks up a lot of background noise. Also, the conversation can be heard by anyone near the person you are talking to. I don't like that invasion of privacy. I used to work in an office where lawyers close to my desk would have conversations with their client on the speakerphone. You could listen to the whole conversation and I don't think that is appropriate.

As soon as someone answers their phone, I immediately know when I am on speakerphone and I will always ask that they take me off it. I don't care who I am talking to. My sister-in-law used to always call me on speakerphone until one day I said to take me off it. Maybe that's why she doesn't call me much anymore. The only time that I will talk on speakerphone is when there is a need for the conversation to be heard by more than one person like in a business meeting. Otherwise, I think that if a person wants to speak with you on the speakerphone that they should ask for your permission to do so out of courtesy.

Facebook Lists

2010-05-31T07:11:00.003-04:00

I have become familiar with a relatively new feature on Facebook where you can arrange your friends into lists. You can create the names of the lists such as family, acquaintances, old school friends, current friends, co-workers, and so on. You can access this feature by going to your facebook profile and clicking on the friends listed on the left hand side of the screen. Once you click on it your list of friends will appear. At the top of the screen there will be a tab labelled "Create List". Click on that, name the list you want to create, then add your friend's name to that list. Once you are done adding names to the list, click create list. You can edit or delete your list at any time. I find the lists helpful if I only want to share a certain status update or photo with a particular group of people. You may not be as personal with friends in your acquaintance list or co-worker list so you can control what they see without blocking them from your wall. I think this is a great privacy feature.

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Dental Surgery - Stainless Steel Crowns

2010-05-28T16:16:00.003-04:00

My son had his dental surgery today and it went very well. He did not complain about any part of it and recovered quickly from the anasthetic. He had to have a couple of steel crowns placed on his molars so he had to have general anasthetic. The surgery took about 1 hour in total and then it took about 15 minutes for him to wake up. He was very unsteady and woozy at first and slept most of the way home. He had lots of freezing in his mouth so it was hard for him to talk at first. After a couple of hours he was back to normal and was able to eat again. He is now trying to get used to having the steel caps on his teeth. The molars will fall out when he is 9 to 12 years old and his permanent ones will grow in. He will not be able to eat candies such as ju jubes, jawbreakers, fruit roll ups, or anything else really sticky for risk of pulling off the steel cap. The dental surgeon was great and I think the day was more stressful for me than for my son who was such a trooper. I am just glad that it is all over.

Frozen Grapes - A Cool Summer Snack

2010-05-23T06:49:00.006-04:00

I was at my mother-in-laws on a hot summer day and she brought out some frozen red seedless grapes. I thought this was very strange at first but the kids loved them! Grapes taste sweeter when they are frozen. I'm not a big fan of freezies or popsicles because they are loaded with sugar and they are messy if they get dripped on the floor. They also create a lot of garbage. The frozen grapes are a great alternative. To freeze grapes simply pick them off of the vine and thoroughly wash them. Then place them in a plastic container with a lid and put them in the freezer. Discard any mushy or discoloured grapes. It will take about 3 or 4 hours for them to freeze. The grapes will not drip as they thaw so there is no sticky mess to clean up. I made these for my kids yesterday and they quickly vanished!

Growing Pains

2010-05-18T08:47:00.003-04:00

For the past few months my 5 year old is sometimes awakened at night with pains in his legs. It happened again last night. The pains occur in his calf muscles and thigh muscles. My older son also complains of leg pains occasionally, but they rarely wake him up at night. Apparently growing pains affect children until their teenage years. It seems if they have an overactive day their tired muscles will start aching once they settle down in the evening or when they are asleep. I remember that I had them as a child as well. To ease the pain I massage his leg muscles and put a hot pack on it. If he is really uncomfortable with the pain, I will also give him an Advil to settle him down so he can go back to sleep. I wish I could get back to sleep as easily.

Growing pains will not be accompanied by any other symptoms so if your child has a fever, swelling, limping, rashes, loss of appetite or weakness, or uncharacteristic behaviour then you should go to the doctor.

Cleaning for Showings

2010-05-14T06:29:00.004-04:00

I just listed my house for sale a few days ago and now I must keep the house neat, tidy, and spotless on a daily basis in case I have a showing. This is a great challenge for me because I don't like to be stuck inside the house cleaning all day. Also, whenever I clean or tidy up an area, the kids come in and make another mess which is very frustrating. We have rented a storage unit where we have put a lot of clutter that was in our house. I cleaned out all of our closets, gave away clothes that no longer fit, and packed away winter clothing. I also got rid of the clutter on my countertops. Yesterday, I cleaned windows and trim and today I will be wiping down my cupboards.

I don't like showing my house because I feel that it is an invasion of my privacy. People will look in your closets, vanities, kitchen cupboards and even your fridge. I have been through this many times before and realize that people are very picky. My biggest pet peeve is when I have to rush around to get ready for a showing and then find out that the people were just comparison shopping and really had no interest in the house. They just wanted to see what they could get at the price range.

The outside of the house also has to be kept tidy and presentable because that is the first impression a potential purchaser has of the home. I have to tidy up the kids toys, pick up any garbage, mow the lawn, and weed the flower garden. It is supposed to be nice and sunny today so I think I will do some work outside and enjoy the sunshine.

Battling Tooth Decay in Children

2010-05-11T08:38:00.004-04:00

My two youngest children have weak tooth enamel and they develop cavities easily. My daughter had dental surgery at age 18 months to fix her front teeth and my son is scheduled for surgery in June. I feel guilty that they are having dental problems and feel that it is my fault. They brush their teeth once a day but what I haven't done is floss their teeth everyday. The dentist has told me that I must floss their teeth to prevent tooth decay. I do not have dental coverage so I have to pay for their checkups and cleanings. Luckily the Canadian government has a program called CINOT (Children In Need Of Treatment) which covers the cost of their surgery and fillings. It is recommended now that children start going to the dentist as soon as their teeth appear. I know that as a child, we never went to the dentist unless we were in pain. My parents did not have a dental plan either. My teeth are relatively healthy and I have not had major decay. It is believed that weak teeth are hereditary and they could get this from my mother because she lost most of her upper teeth in her mid twenties and had to get dentures. I didn't even realize that a child could be born with weak tooth enamel until my daughter's teeth rapidly started decaying.

As a preventative measure I now floss my kids' teeth everyday and limit their sugar intake. I do not buy pop so they rarely drink that but they do drink juice and they do have candy like any normal child. I am also giving them more raw vegetables to eat because this also strengthens their teeth. It is an ongoing battle and hopefully their adult teeth will be stronger. My oldest son does not seem to have weak enamel but he will need braces in a couple of years. If you have young children, please take them to the dentist early on so that any decay can be detected early. I think I should have become a dentist or married one! Dental care is so costly.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

2010-05-08T11:34:00.002-04:00

Here is a short video to celebrate Mother's Day. Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.

Mother's Day - The best free videos are right here

Open Casket - Dead Guy On Bike

2010-05-06T09:36:00.003-04:00

I came across this photo which was posted on a local radio station's blog and I just had to share it. This is from a funeral of a man in San Yuan who wished to be buried with his motorbike. The undertakers presented him in this fashion at his funeral. I'm not sure how I would react to this. Its definitely unique and personal but it may be too creepy for some to actually view in person. I couldn't imagine going to my grandma's funeral and seeing her sitting at a table quilting (which she loved to do) or going to my grandfather's funeral and seeing him playing cards which was his favourite hobby. I do however believe that people should be dressed in whatever was comfortable for them. We feel the need to dress up our loved ones for the viewing even though that person may have hated wearing suits or dressing up. For me, I would be happy to be buried in my favourite jeans and t-shirt. When you see your loved one in a casket, its peaceful and it gives you a sense of closure. I just don't know if viewing someone situated like this would do that.

10 Ways To Help A New Mom

2010-05-02T10:52:00.009-04:00

Mother's Day is next Sunday and I thought I would post about ways that you can help out a new mom. Bringing a new baby home is a very exciting time but it is also stressful and exhausting. Here are some things you can do to take some of the stress away from a new mom:

1. Prepare some casseroles and freeze them so that she will have a quick and healthy meal at her fingertips on those really hectic days.

2. If you are going to visit the new baby, ask the new mom if she needs you to pick up milk, bread, or any other staple. Trying to get out the door with a newborn is a challenge and I am sure she would appreciate this gesture.

3. Help out with laundry and cleaning. It is difficult to find time to do household chores especially if a new mom is trying to rest when the baby sleeps. I remember when my kids were newborn that I didn't rest when they slept because I felt I had to cook and clean. I didn't have any help and I soon became exhausted.

4. Bring a basket full of healthy snacks, bottles of water and herbal tea. If she is breastfeeding, it is important that the foods she eat are easy to prepare and packed with good nutrition. Its also important to drink lots of fluids.

5. Offer to look after the baby while mom has a bath or shower or to allow her to go for a quick walk. It is amazing what a 30 minute to 1 hour break can do to give you an energy boost. This will also give you some bonding time with baby.

6. Give her a gift certificate to a cleaning service. Who wouldn't want their house professionally cleaned a couple of times?

7. Give her a gift certificate to a popular pizza place or other restaurant that delivers for those nights that she just simply doesn't feel like cooking. Its also helpful if you include a menu with it.

8. Help her write thank you cards to those who attended her baby shower, dropped off baby gifts, or sent gifts while she was in the hospital.

9. Bring a basket full of things to make her feel good like her favourite bubble bath, a great book, magazine or movie, lotion, facial masque, nail polish, hair care products, and so on. If you look good, you feel good.

10. Have friends and family write babycare tips and advice on index cards and arrange them into a card container. Sometimes people have valuable tips that you don't come across in books. This will also make a great keepsake that she may pass down to her baby.

Before the baby arrived, all the attention was on how mom to be was doing. Once the baby is born, most of the attention is shifted to the baby. Its nice to do something thoughtful just for the new mom to make her feel special and less stressed.