Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Friday, July 22, 2011
recycling in the garbage breaks my heart
There's only a few days left in our Oregon coast vacation; we've spent most of our time relaxing, walking around town and of course enjoying the beach. Fortunately the beach here in Rockaway is fairly deserted, which means the boy can have his run of the beach and we don't have to worry that he's disturbing anyone else or stealing other kids toys.
The boy loves the sand, the rocks and the seaweed but is not so keen on the Ocean itself, in fact after six days here, all he will do is stomp his toe in the edge of the water and then bolt up the beach. That being said, I have to admit it is absolutley adorable when he hunkers down to run from the waves.
I love the sleepy, beach town feel of Rockaway and I have but one complaint; there is no recycling. Although as a state Oregon recycles, there is no facility, collection or means to recycle here. Our welcome package at the house was very clear, EVERYTHING goes into the garbage. Every time a recyclable goes into the garbage my entire family's heart sinks just a little bit and add in the disposable diapers we're using because we are on vacation and our garbage has more than tripled this week.
Despite my passion, I rarely talk about living green on the Momma Stuff Blog. It almost seems redundant to write about day to day green living activities like recycling, composting, reusable cups and shopping bags, because to me its not an option, its a way of life. Where I live we have curbside pick up for all recyclables, papers, plastics, metals and cardboard and they are even rolling out a food scraps program so that all food wastes, paper towels, paper plates and the like can be sent out for composting.
I do not consider our town overly progressive from an environmental perspective, however we are getting there. At a recent City-sponsored event I was ecstatic to find not only were the recycling and composting bins considerably more prominent than the garbage, but there was also a portable tap water station to fill up water bottles. We have some of the best tap water on the west coast and I am proud to say I drink it every day.
This trip to Oregon has reminded me that living green may be my mantra, but I shouldn't assume that everyone else is afforded the same luxury of having the facilities and the means to look out for the environment every step of the way. I hope this trip will serve as a reminder to share more of my environmental knowledge and experiences, so that we can all work towards a greener future.
Does your family 'live green'?
What actions do you take to minimize your impact on the Earth?
What actions do you take to minimize your impact on the Earth?
Friday, July 15, 2011
Moments for Momma
Anyone whose a parent can tell you that in the hustle and bustle of daily life no longer do we get hours and days of personal time, instead we must learn to embrace the little moments of peace that our lifestyle allows. Be it a hot shower with the door closed (one of my personal favourites) a second to read the newspaper, an opportunity to bake cookies or even a little bit of time to blog; as a parent, particularly of young children we must take advantage of any moment that can truly be classified as 'me time'.
You may have noticed that over the last couple weeks, my blog posting has waned a little bit. Although I have had a plethora of ideas and thoughts running through my head, many of which I can't wait to share, the honest truth is that my 'moments for momma' have been fleeting and I have been rediscovering an old passion.
As a child, my Mom and her friend used to make and sell crafts, which meant that there was an entire bedroom in my house filled with fabric, ribbons, beads, buttons, rick, rack, mod podge, glues and paint and most of it was available at my disposal. Granted I used the scraps and extras, but I spent hours in that room and I learned to use both a sewing machine and a serger at a very young age.
When the boy was about 6 months old, I started making drool bandanas and even managed to sell a few, then when I was pregnant with baby boy, I whipped out my sewing machine again. Girls clothes are so much cuter, so I ended up making a bunch of dresses, but now that its clear I'm a momma to boys, I've given most of them away and am hoping to sell the few that remain.
But I digress, in the last few weeks rather than blogging, I have once again pulled out my sewing machine. Using internet tutorials, I made a super cute Summer Frock and adorable purse for a birthday party we recently attended, I even made a matching headband to complete the outfit.
What I'm even more proud of however, is this adorable jersey hoody that I made for the boy using old t-shirts and a little bit of camouflage jersey fabric I had on. I made this hoody using the Heidi & Finn Unisex Hoody pattern. Seriously easy and so cute! There's something about the physical creation of a garment from mere fabric that gives me great satisfaction and these days I'm inclined to think that a little bit of pride that's unrelated to my children is a good thing.
What do you do to unwind in your 'moments for mommy?'
You may have noticed that over the last couple weeks, my blog posting has waned a little bit. Although I have had a plethora of ideas and thoughts running through my head, many of which I can't wait to share, the honest truth is that my 'moments for momma' have been fleeting and I have been rediscovering an old passion.
As a child, my Mom and her friend used to make and sell crafts, which meant that there was an entire bedroom in my house filled with fabric, ribbons, beads, buttons, rick, rack, mod podge, glues and paint and most of it was available at my disposal. Granted I used the scraps and extras, but I spent hours in that room and I learned to use both a sewing machine and a serger at a very young age.
When the boy was about 6 months old, I started making drool bandanas and even managed to sell a few, then when I was pregnant with baby boy, I whipped out my sewing machine again. Girls clothes are so much cuter, so I ended up making a bunch of dresses, but now that its clear I'm a momma to boys, I've given most of them away and am hoping to sell the few that remain.
But I digress, in the last few weeks rather than blogging, I have once again pulled out my sewing machine. Using internet tutorials, I made a super cute Summer Frock and adorable purse for a birthday party we recently attended, I even made a matching headband to complete the outfit.
What I'm even more proud of however, is this adorable jersey hoody that I made for the boy using old t-shirts and a little bit of camouflage jersey fabric I had on. I made this hoody using the Heidi & Finn Unisex Hoody pattern. Seriously easy and so cute! There's something about the physical creation of a garment from mere fabric that gives me great satisfaction and these days I'm inclined to think that a little bit of pride that's unrelated to my children is a good thing.
What do you do to unwind in your 'moments for mommy?'
Saturday, July 9, 2011
BARE Air-Free Bottles
I've recently noticed that if I am at the checkout, be it the grocery store or Toys R Us, and I am asked to donate to a cause I am far more likely to donate a dollar or two than I am under any other circumstance. If the cause is for children, women or mothers in need, I'm even more likely to contribute. For some reason it seems so much easier to add a couple dollars onto an existing expense; it's likely the two dollars I donated was saved by an item I bought on sale anyways right? Interesting the justifications our minds think up.
I started thinking about this after learning about the BARE Air-Free Bottle; this mom-designed bottle is made to truly prevent the ingestion of air, mimic the mother's breast, prevent bacteria and simplify cleaning. In order for BARE to become a reality, Mom inventor Priska Diaz is seeking sponsorship from everyday people, mom's like us, via a unique site called Kick Starter. Pledges as low as $1 are being accepted and everyone who contributes will receive recognition on the BARE website. Although you can't pledge BARE at your grocery check-out, it is super easy to use your credit card via amazon payments.
So what makes BARE so unique?
Although many bottles claim to be inspired by mother's breast, BARE takes it a step farther, allowing the milk flow to be determined entirely by babies suckling, this also means there's no need for different nipples as baby grows. A BARE bottle will provide more milk to baby when he is ready and when baby sucks, the nipple stretches just like mom's. I'm also amazed by the innovation of the air-plug; it works just like a syringe allowing you to effectively push all the air out of the bottle before baby's lips ever reach the nipple. BARE air-free bottles are dishwasher safe, designed to minimize backwash and promote self-feeding as your child grows.
We are already on our third variety of bottle with the baby boy, as he is prone to very bad and uncomfortable gas, with all these great features I only wish that BARE was available in stores now, I'd definitely try them out. Find out more about BARE air-free bottles and consider contributing a loonie or two to a mompreneur with a product that has the potential to effect many.
This post is sponsored by BARE air-free bottles, however all opinions are my own.
I started thinking about this after learning about the BARE Air-Free Bottle; this mom-designed bottle is made to truly prevent the ingestion of air, mimic the mother's breast, prevent bacteria and simplify cleaning. In order for BARE to become a reality, Mom inventor Priska Diaz is seeking sponsorship from everyday people, mom's like us, via a unique site called Kick Starter. Pledges as low as $1 are being accepted and everyone who contributes will receive recognition on the BARE website. Although you can't pledge BARE at your grocery check-out, it is super easy to use your credit card via amazon payments.
Although many bottles claim to be inspired by mother's breast, BARE takes it a step farther, allowing the milk flow to be determined entirely by babies suckling, this also means there's no need for different nipples as baby grows. A BARE bottle will provide more milk to baby when he is ready and when baby sucks, the nipple stretches just like mom's. I'm also amazed by the innovation of the air-plug; it works just like a syringe allowing you to effectively push all the air out of the bottle before baby's lips ever reach the nipple. BARE air-free bottles are dishwasher safe, designed to minimize backwash and promote self-feeding as your child grows.
We are already on our third variety of bottle with the baby boy, as he is prone to very bad and uncomfortable gas, with all these great features I only wish that BARE was available in stores now, I'd definitely try them out. Find out more about BARE air-free bottles and consider contributing a loonie or two to a mompreneur with a product that has the potential to effect many.
This post is sponsored by BARE air-free bottles, however all opinions are my own.
Friday, July 8, 2011
Glasses CAN be an accessory
When I was a little girl, I secretly wanted to wear glasses; I was sure they would make me seem more mature and sophisticated. I was eleven when glasses became my reality, I still remember my first pair of frames, they were black with purple splatter and one of the lenses perpetually fell out.
It was when I was crawling on the floor searching for the tiny screw of those glasses that I realized that although my idealistic self thought that eyeglasses were the ultimate accessory, in actuality they were more of a necessity. As I've aged, my prescription has continued to increase, in fact just today I was telling the boy 'no touching Mommy's glasses, she needs them to see!'
One of the worst things about my declining eyesight is that the stronger my prescription gets, the more expensive my glasses become to purchase. As such, my childhood dreams of eye glasses as an accessory seemed fleeting; I have never been able to afford more than one pair of glasses at a time, which means that my glasses simply couldn't be classified as an accessory.
I should have known that the internet would come to the rescue, sites such as GlassesUSA.com make it possible for anyone to purchase fashionable glasses at a great price, which means that having multiple sets of glasses isn't just for the rich and famous anymore. No longer must we wear the same pair of glasses to a cocktail party as we wear every day at the office.
Next time I need to buy glasses I'll be looking online and you should too.
GlassesUSA.com offers features such as a virtual mirror to ensure you get just the right fit, a 110% lowest price guarantee, a 100% satisfaction guarantee, a generous referral program and worldwide shipping. Glasses USA is offering all Momma Stuff Blog readers a 10% discount off their next pair of glasses, just enter code 'Mommy10' at checkout OR if you want to try out transition lenses enter code 'Tran25' and get $25 off your order.
This post is sponsored by GlassesUSA.com, however all opinion are my own.
It was when I was crawling on the floor searching for the tiny screw of those glasses that I realized that although my idealistic self thought that eyeglasses were the ultimate accessory, in actuality they were more of a necessity. As I've aged, my prescription has continued to increase, in fact just today I was telling the boy 'no touching Mommy's glasses, she needs them to see!'
One of the worst things about my declining eyesight is that the stronger my prescription gets, the more expensive my glasses become to purchase. As such, my childhood dreams of eye glasses as an accessory seemed fleeting; I have never been able to afford more than one pair of glasses at a time, which means that my glasses simply couldn't be classified as an accessory.
I should have known that the internet would come to the rescue, sites such as GlassesUSA.com make it possible for anyone to purchase fashionable glasses at a great price, which means that having multiple sets of glasses isn't just for the rich and famous anymore. No longer must we wear the same pair of glasses to a cocktail party as we wear every day at the office.
Next time I need to buy glasses I'll be looking online and you should too.
GlassesUSA.com offers features such as a virtual mirror to ensure you get just the right fit, a 110% lowest price guarantee, a 100% satisfaction guarantee, a generous referral program and worldwide shipping. Glasses USA is offering all Momma Stuff Blog readers a 10% discount off their next pair of glasses, just enter code 'Mommy10' at checkout OR if you want to try out transition lenses enter code 'Tran25' and get $25 off your order.
This post is sponsored by GlassesUSA.com, however all opinion are my own.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
I want a house...but maybe not today
I want a house.
With a yard for the kids to play in.
With a garden for flowers, food and herbs.
With a front room for the adults.
With a rec room for the kids.
With enough space for family barbeques.
With ample storage.
With a bright and roomy kitchen.
I want a house.
But all of these things come at a cost; our current townhome is five minutes from my mother-in-law and fifteen minutes from my parents, despite living in an urban centre, we have a beautiful park literally across the road. We are a ten minute walk from the skytrain that connects us to downtown Vancouver and we can easily walk to the mall or grocery store. This pedestrian accessibility of our neighbourhood speaks to the concept of 'smart growth', but despite my love for the environment that's not on the list for why we stay.
One of the reasons we bought our townhouse is the yard; we have a small, private, west-facing yard and over the past few years we have really made it our own. The hubs and my Dad built a beautiful deck made of 'plastic wood' that won't rot and will stand up to our wet west coast weather and the hubs also built me a raised flower bed for our raspberry bushes, which are nostalgic for me, and strawberry plants, yummy! This year we are also trying an upside down tomato planter, even though we aren't really tomato fans.
The garden takes energy to maintain but also provides it; sitting in the garden is both refreshing and rejuvenating. If and when we move, it will likely be the thing I miss most. Although I want a house with a bigger yard and more space I'm not so sure I'd want to leave our townhouse in the middle of its most beautiful season of the year.
How much space does your family have? Do you wish you had more or even less?
With a yard for the kids to play in.
With a garden for flowers, food and herbs.
With a front room for the adults.
With a rec room for the kids.
With enough space for family barbeques.
With ample storage.
With a bright and roomy kitchen.
I want a house.
But all of these things come at a cost; our current townhome is five minutes from my mother-in-law and fifteen minutes from my parents, despite living in an urban centre, we have a beautiful park literally across the road. We are a ten minute walk from the skytrain that connects us to downtown Vancouver and we can easily walk to the mall or grocery store. This pedestrian accessibility of our neighbourhood speaks to the concept of 'smart growth', but despite my love for the environment that's not on the list for why we stay.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Ddrops | Review & Giveaway
There is no question that as parents, our children's needs are always at the forefront of our minds. As a parent of a child with multiple food allergies supplementation is something I struggle with. I work hard to provide a nutritious, well-rounded, gluten/dairy/soy-free diet for the boy, but I can't help but worry that he is missing out nutritionally.
As you may know, I was fortunate enough to win tickets to Blissdom Canada from Ddrops Canada and I have also had the opportunity to try out the Vitamin D supplements. "Vitamin D is actually a building block involved in repair and maintenance of the body" and is therefore something anyone and everyone can benefit from. Ddrops are available for Adults, Children and Infants; amazingly all three products require only a single tasteless drop to get maximum benefits.
As you may know, the traditional source of Vitamin D is exposure to the sun and although there are a few other sources of Vitamin D, supplementation is often recommended. The biggest problem we've had with Ddrops at our house is remembering to take them, particularly given the 'mommy brain' that is currently my reality.
Ddrops are a fantastic product; I love that they are tasteless and thus can be dropped into an evening bottle, licked off a spoon or even the back of the hand. There's nothing worse that trying to syringe liquids into an unwilling toddler's mouth. With Ddrops I have confidence that despite sunscreen, sunhats, sunglasses and protective clothing our family is getting sufficient Vitamin D to fuel and heal our bodies.
Ddrops wants you to have that confidence too, so we are giving away all three of the Ddrops products I tested, to one lucky Momma Stuff Blog Reader.
Ddrops has also offered to send a free Dora/Diego Growth Chart to any Momma Stuff Blog readers who post a question or comment on the Ddrops Facebook Page regarding Ddrops or Vitamin D in general.
Enter to Win
Ddrops set including: 1 Baby Ddrops, 1 Kids Ddrops and 1 Ddrops
Open to Canada only
Open to Canada only
First Entry:
Visit http://www.ddrops.ca online and leave a comment sharing why you want to try out Ddrops!
Visit http://www.ddrops.ca online and leave a comment sharing why you want to try out Ddrops!
Please make sure you include your email address if its not in your profile otherwise I won't be able to contact you if you win!
Additional Entries:
Please leave a comment for EACH additional entry
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Like Ddrops on Facebook and leave a comment saying you arrived via @mommastuffblog
Subscribe via email (and activate the subscription) to the Momma Stuff Blog (left sidebar)
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Tweet this giveaway (once per day - leave a link)
I entered to #win Ddrops Vitamin D supplements for the whole family from @mommastuffblog & @babyddrops http://bit.ly/jFGQ8G
I entered to #win Ddrops Vitamin D supplements for the whole family from @mommastuffblog & @babyddrops http://bit.ly/jFGQ8G
Giveaway closes Sunday July 10th, 2011 at 8pm (PST). Winner will be determined by a random number generator. Winner will be notified via email and the winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new name will be drawn and contacted.
Contest now closed. Congratulations to our Winner Comment #19 'Little Miss Kate'
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