Wednesday, August 29, 2012

were you a fan?

After seeing this question on Canadian Dads facebook page, it brought up a lot of memories....I was a HUGE 90210 fan. In fact, I saw every episode from the series.....I even remember watching the finale episode, while my hubby (then boyfriend) sat making fun of me in his basement......

I remember having arguments and tickle fights with a friend over who was hotter - Dylan(of course he was) or Brandon (please note - I was 10 when this was going on).  I hated Kelly when she and Dylan got together (Brenda was always my favorite, and I just didn't see any chemistry between Jennie Garth and Luke Perry). I had Luke Perry posters on my walls, and would buy any issue of teen beat (or whatever magazine) that had him on the cover. I even wanted to go out and buy a pot bellied pig when I found out that he owned one (come on, they are adorable)

Were you a 90120 fan? Who did you lust after?

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

and my baby is not a baby

just minutes old
Today marks my littlest guys second birthday.....as of 10:14pm tonight, he will be 2 years old. It is amazing how fast these last 2 years have gone....definitely faster than with my oldest. I guess since I don't have the same time to focus ONLY on him, it goes quicker.

     



sleeping peacefully in mama's arms his first christmas
and now, 2 years later




Book Tour: The Booby Trap (#lovesecrets)

I was given the chance to read the book "The Booby Trap" by Anne Browning Walker; it's a light, easy read. I love romance novels, and this has your typical romantic storyline.  It actually only took me 2 days to read it, as I got into the story immediately.



The Booby Trap

Welcome to the Booby Trap, a seedy bar in Everett, Mass. where waitresses' skirts are high, necklines are low, and customers show up for the eye candy.


This is the setting for Walker’s provocative novel, The Booby Trap (Pixel Entertainment/Butler Books, September 2012) in which Harvard Ph.D. candidate Bambi Benson finds the waitresses prime research for her degree in women's studies, and embarks on a mission to go undercover and completely immerse herself in their world. All goes well until handsome local celebrity Trip Whitley enters the scene.

A fun, absorbing read, The Booby Trap was written with a particular audience in mind: Walker's closest friends.

"I wanted my heroine to reflect the many smart, savvy, thoughtful, and driven women in my life," Walker says. “Bambi is a modern-day heroine who values ambition and success in her own career, and also makes time for love.”

After reading the book, I was supposed to share something new I learned about my hubby - I learned he is a big kid; a total, big kid. My son recently turned 5, and received a spiderman toy that crawls along the walls/ceilings - and my hubby has just as much fun as my son.....#lovesecrets

I received the above book free of charge for review - opinions stated belong to Tales of Mommyhood; your opinion may  vary

Monday, August 27, 2012

Free eyeglasses from Firmoo.com


I am excited to share with you a promotion from Firmoo Optical - every NEW customer can choose their first pair of glasses FREE (see website for details) how awesome is that?  A few months ago I did a review for them and discovered some great frames. Head over, take a look and see if you can find a new pair for FREE!





*this post contains an affiliate link; I will be compensated for any purchases made from it*




Saturday, August 25, 2012

Littlest mans birthday party - Lightning Mcqueen

Today was Kyle's birthday party - he is turning 2 next week! He loves Lightning McQueen, so I made a McQueen cake and had some other McQueen party supplies on hand. Very simple, fruit and veggie trays and cake.

The kids played outside on the play structure and the water table and seemed to have a lot of fun (tired out too!)






Thursday, August 23, 2012

children and fear

My oldest has a fear of the hair dresser. A real, true fear. Not just the hair dresser, but getting his hair cut in general.  He was ok for his first 2 or 3 cuts, but then got older and it freaked him out. We always were able to push through it, and rewarded him with ice cream after the cut.

A year or so ago, he had a bad experience. He had been with his grandparents, got a great cut, and came home telling me he was never getting it cut again.  It took me 4mths to get out of him that the clippers pulled his hair.  2 more months to convince him to try the hair dresser with scissors instead of clippers.  That resulted in half a hair cut, he wouldn't let her finish.

A few months later, his grandparents took him, same thing - half a cut.....that was in april. He wouldn't let us touch him after that (I was able to trim his bangs and the back ONE time.)  All the bribing in the world was not letting us near him with clippers or scissors; until today.

Today, he decided I could cut the back - just a bit. I am not a hair dresser, so I went for the bangs and the very bottom at the back....it resulted in almost 3 inches coming off. Still not a great cut, but at least it is somewhat fresher looking.  His reward? A fudge bar while it was being done, gets his water guns back (he lost them because he kept shooting water in the house) AND a sleepover at grandma and grandpa's house next weekend.

Here is a before/after




Instead of touching his shoulders, it now sits just below his ears.....not the best, as I said, not a hair dresser by any means; but I think it is better than before!

where did the summer go?

It is hard to believe that in just 10 days, school will be back in session - and Julien will be heading off to Senior Kindergarten.

I don't have the apprehension and sadness that I did gearing up for JK last year, and I think he is looking forward to heading back.

I don't know where the time went - we didn't really DO much this summer, but he did get lots of pool time and somewhat conquer his fear of the water, so for that I am extremely grateful and that is owed to friends of ours that allowed us to come over weekly and have pool dates!

We haven't crossed everything off our summer fun list, however next week I am hoping to take them to the animal farm, which gets us that much closer to completing. I also regret that this summer was filled with more yelling than I would like, and LOTS of bickering between the boys....is there any hope that it will get better as they get older?

How was your summer? Did you accomplish all that you set out to? Did you go on any adventures? relaxing vacation or road trips?

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

a rare moment

There is slightly more than 3 years between my children, and the majority of the time they don't get along. They pick at each other, bicker, scream, yell, kick, hit, bite and throw things at each other.  It makes for some long, interesting days.

However, we do have extremely occasional moments, that they play really well together. They don't normally  last long, and I often don't capture them, but I happen to have a few to show you.....






Monday, August 20, 2012

CPR/First Aid

Recently, my hubby was sent on a first aid/cpr course by his work. The course was offered by the Red Cross, and it quite intensive training. The last first aid course I took, was in 1992 when I did the babysitters course. It offered a quick glimpse at CPR/First Aid; while I know I need to re-certify (they modify the guidelines every 5 years or so) its something I put off doing.  Once my oldest was born, I regretted it...especially when introducing solids - i was petrified of choking. However, given the length of the courses, as a SAHM it is difficult to find the time available to attend.

10 days after completing the course, hubby got to put his first aid skills to the test. He and the boys were playing "try and catch me" (a game where they run around the loop on our main floor) and Jules somehow went really hard into the corner of a wall (wher 2 of our walls meet). He got a pretty nasty cut, and wasn't immediately able to move his arm (or wouldn't move it because of the pain). Hubby was able to assess everything and figure out it most likely was not broken) however, when he was refusing a freezie, I knew it was still pretty serious; he was clammy, pale and felt nauseous, started to go into shock.  We moved him to the couch and had him lie down for a little while, and after about 30 minutes he perked up and was asking for a freezie.

Had I been alone, I would have been fine treating him (even without first aid/cpr) but it was nice to know that the bone wasn't broken.

If you haven't taken a course, or need re-certification, I would urge you to look into doing so.

Sunday, August 19, 2012

#back2school - bundles and buzz giveaway

Here you will find a giveaway from Bundles and Buzz! The prize, a surprise #back2school bundle and $20.00 in store credit! This giveaway is open to US/CAN, and will run until August 21, 2012.  Use the rafflecopter form below to enter!



ETY•Kids5 Earphones *2 Winners*

Another great #back2school giveaway for you! This giveaway is for ETY•Kids5 Earphones; there will be 2 winners, and it is open to US/CAN - starting today, and ending August 31, 2012.



Friday, August 17, 2012

The Childrens Place #back2school giveaway


My Silly Monkeys

Are you excited that #back2school is around the corner? I know my oldest little guy is really looking forward to heading off to senior kindergarten this year!



What better way to start the year off by outfitting your child with a $150.00 gift certificate to The Childrens Place? I am joining with a great group of bloggers to help promote this giveaway - it is open to Canada/US and will run from August 17 until 11:59PM August 31! Use the rafflecopter form below to enter, and good luck!

Thursday, August 16, 2012

favorite room?

Do you have a favorite room in your house? Mine is my kitchen. I love to cook and love to bake, so I spend a LOT of time in this room. It's probably the most important feature (for me) when looking at a house.  If I can't picture myself working in the kitchen, then no matter what the rest of the house is like, I can't see myself in it.

We have lived in our house for 8 years, and while we STILL need to take down the horrible wallpaper border that outlines the walls, and it needs a good coat of paint - I still love it.  There are a few things I would change (the above noted, and I would also like to extend our counter and get rid of the kitchen table, but hubby and I have differing opinions on that)....

So, do you have a favorite room? is there a reason, or just a room you like?

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Cleaning your home WITHOUT chemicals

Who would have thought it was possible to have a REAL CLEAN home without using chemicals? When I was first introduced to Norwex, I was extremely skeptical.  Then I fell in love. I was able to clean my kitchen, bathroom, walls, floors, windows and even my car, using only a cloth and water. I loved them so much, I decided to become a Norwex Independent Sales Consultant.

I have been using the products since May, and cannot begin to tell you how happy I am that I am not exposing my family to the harsh chemicals in most cleaning products.

Norwex has enzyme products to help combat dustmites, carpet stains and even your oven (yes, you can use a non-chemical cleaner for your oven - it is an amazing product)

If you want to clean your home green, check out all the amazing products Norwex has to offer! Feel free to leave me a comment or ask a question!

Adult Essentials Brand Ambassador from Shes Connected

This is my 2nd post as an Adult Essentials Brand Ambassador from Shes Connected.



I am relatively happy with my body and health. I am not overweight (although I am not in perfect shape either). I try and stay active my getting outside and doing activities with the boys; I aim to spend 45-60 minutes outside everyday - that isn't always possible, and on those rainy days I try and find some creative ways to get moving in the house.

Some days we will do jumping jacks, or we will have a dance party in our family room or kitchen (the boys love this!) I also take them to a drop-in at a local play centre, and I they can run around and climb, swing and get physical....I join them with obstacle courses too.

One thing that I have always been unhappy with - is the amount of hair I lose. It's not completely over the top, no thinning and it isn't noticeable by looking at me - but when wash my hair, or put my fingers in my hair, I lose a lot....and I am sure it is more than normal.

After only 1 week on the Adult Essentials Multi vitamin, I started to notice that it was less. I am guessing I was lacking something, and by supplementing with the multi it helped to get things back on track.

Stay tuned next month for my 3rd and final post as a Brand Ambassador!

Disclosure - I am participating in the Adult Essentials Blogger Outreach program by ShesConnected. I received a supply of vitamins and compensation in exchange for my participation in this campaign.  The opinions on this blog are my own.

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Are you prepared?


I have heard many times that we need to be prepared in case of emergency; having a well stocked first aid kit, water and non-perishable food items on hand to last a few days.

When I was a teenager, we experienced the Ice Storm ‘98, however living in the city, we weren’t REALLY all that affected by it. We lost power for a little while, and the roads were a mess but that was about it. I had friends that lived in the country, and they had to come in and stay with friends/family in the city because there was no estimate on how long they would be without power.

A few years later, there was the major power outage throughout the province of Ontario, Quebec and into the US as well…again, living in the city we weren’t TOO bad off – we had rolling black outs but our food and water supply was fine.

While I KNEW that we should have some sort of kit in place, it’s something I kept putting off.  A few weeks ago, there was a forest fire – not far from our house.  For anyone that lives in, or knows the Ottawa area, this is pretty much unheard of. A few houses were evacuated in the immediate area (not for long, and more because of the smoke than anything else) but it really got me thinking – how would we keep our boys fed, hydrated and safe if we were REALLY affected by an emergency or a natural disaster?.

We have no kit….we don’t have extra water, or canned food. If something was to happen and we had to leave immediately, we would have to leave with the clothes on our backs and that’s it. Having our boys to think about, this really upset me.  I started doing some online research and contacted the Red Cross to see what exactly is recommended to have in an emergency kit 

Over the next few weeks, I plan on making some small additions to my regular grocery list so that I can build up a great kit for us. It will be stored in the basement, and I will keep extra clothes with it as well. I urge you to do the same. You can purchase kits from the Red Cross , and add in the essentials for food and water, or you can head out to your local store and build your own.

Are you ready for an emergency? Have you ever been through a major power outage?

**This is NOT a sponsored post. These are my own thoughts and opinions, and I received no compensation**

Monday, August 13, 2012

your perfect family

Growing up, all I ever wanted was to be a mom. When I was really little, I told my mom that I was going to have 10 kids and live at home forever....no husband for me.

When I got a little older, I realized it didn't work that way and dropped my number to 6. Even though, over the years I sometimes wanted a career, it wasn't really my main focus. The biggest thing for me was to be a mom. No matter how many kids I have, I don't think I would ever be done.

Hubby and I were way off on our ideas - he only wanted 1. It took a long time, and just when I had come to terms with having no more children, he changed his mind and we added Kyle to our family.  At the time, I thought I would be content with 2 (not meaning I wouldn't have more, but just that I wouldn't feel the NEED for more) but I was wrong. As Kyle gets closer to hitting 2 years old (August 28...not long now) it makes me realize how much he is growing up.  It makes me sad knowing he isn't a baby anymore. As I have been giving things away, and realizing this is the end, its starting to hit me. Even though we are done, I don't feel as the our family is complete.

I am starting to get baby fever again, but I know that it's not going to happen. That being said, even if we had a 3rd, I am pretty sure I would want a 4th, and a 5th....

What about you? Did you always know exactly how many kids you wanted to have? Was your spouse/partner on board with that number?

Friday, August 10, 2012

Poptails - review

I love cocktails (margaritas and daiquiri's are my favs) and popsicles are great too....what about combining the two of them? A tasty, refreshing summertime treat! I was thrilled when I had the chance to check out this great book.



In the book "Poptails: 60 Boozy Treats Served on a Stick" by Erin Nichols, she shows you how you can turn some great cocktails into delicious popsicles. She gives detailed instructions on how to get the alcohol to freeze, and has 60 combinations that you can try out. Erin as been blogging since 1998, you can check out her website www.erincooks.com to read about her other cooking adventures!

I received the above mentioned product free of charge in exchange for posting about it; opinions stated belong to Tales of Mommyhood, your experience or opinion may vary.

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Happy Blogiversary Tales of Mommyhood

Today is the day! 4 years ago today, I wrote my first blog post and Tales of Mommyhood was born!  I am truly amazed at the difference this blog has made to my life, moreso over the last year than anything else.

All of the blogiversary giveaways have ended, and winners have been contacted. I will update this post with their names once they have been confirmed!

Thanks so much for following Tales of Mommyhood and entering my giveaways. I love to hear from my readers, so PLEASE comment and let me know what is on your mind!

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Not what I want my kids seeing

Last night, I was watching the 6pm news - and Julien was playing with his cars. A set of commercials comes on, and Julien looks up and starts watching. The commercial was advertising the new Charlie Sheen show that is coming this fall. Does it have anything to do with the show? not really. This particular commercial shows him standing on train tracks, getting hit by a train and walking away unscathed (well, he has some dirt or soot on his face, but that's about it) and he says "everyone deserves a 24th chance". Julien thought it was SO COOL that the man got hit by a train and didn't get hurt.

That is NOT what I want my children seeing. As parents, we teach our children NOT to play on/near railway lines because they are VERY dangerous. We teach them to look both ways before crossing a street, and when they are really young they need to hold our hands.


Yet at 6pm, when most children are awake, there is a commercial showing this? Not impressed AT ALL. I have written to CTV asking at the very least they move the commercial to after 9pm, if not remove it completely.

As a mom, I don't shelter my kids too much in terms of the type of shows/movies they watch. We make sure to talk about the things they are seeing, and there are times we will have him close his eyes until a scene is over, or we will fast forward.  But this upsets me - and I made sure to tell him when it was over that it was not a REAL train collision, just a fake one on tv - but it still bothers me that he had the chance to see it.

If you object to the commercial as I do, I urge you to write to them also.


Book Tour: Beauty to Die For


I recently received a copy of the book "Beauty to Die For : A Spa Mystery", for review. Supermodel Kim Alexis is the co-author.

When I really get into a book, I feel as though I am watching it on tv.  When I was reading Beauty to Die For, I felt as if I was watching a soap opera - which isn't a bad thing, as I am a soap fan. I had a very easy time getting into the book, and it was a great escape at the end of a long day with the boys. It's kind of a combination of romance and mystery, with more focus on the mystery.  There is a romantic story going on as well, but it's not your typical, steamy novel.

Below is the press release for the book:

Kim Alexis: A Model Storyteller

Supermodel co-authors B&H's new spa murder mystery, Beauty to Die For

"Supermodel Kim Alexis has taken her experiences and her heart for healthy living and woven them beautifully in this cozy mystery. Beauty to Die For will leave you cheering for Juliette and Marcus as they work to solve their feelings and the murder." ­ Supermodel Cheryl Tiegs

NASHVILLE ­ Supermodel Kim Alexis was one of the most famous faces of the '80s, walking alongside Iman, Christie Brinkley, and Kelly Emberg on the runways. Today, she is an avid fitness enthusiast, public speaker, and her most recent venture: mystery author.

Along with best-selling author Mindy Starns Clark, Kim's new bookBeauty to Die For: A Spa Mystery (B&H Books, August 2012, paperback, $14.99) introduces us to Juliette Taylor, a fictional former supermodel who co-owns a beauty line. But when Juliette's products are the victim of a counterfeit scheme, it sets into motion a sinister chain of events.

When Juliette arrives at the Palm Grotto Spa to host a spiritual retreat for women, she runs into an old modeling colleague, Raven, who had always been disliked in the industry. Demanding and rude, Raven doesn't have a lot of fans at the spa, either.

When Raven makes a cryptic threat to Juliette ­ and is then found dead, hours later ­ suspicion is directed at Juliette. Juliette has a rocky history with Raven, and certainly knows how to use beauty products Å  but for murder?!

Now, Juliette must find the actual killer before the police really take care of her
.

A crackling story co-authored by one of America's most beloved supermodels, Beauty to Die for is a must-read for mystery fans and spa lovers alike.

KIM ALEXIS has been the spokesperson for several iconic American beauty brands, such as Revlon's premium Ultima II line (replacing Lauren Hutton), Tiffany Perfume, Fitness Quest, and many more. Her desire is to encourage other women to be their best in all areas of life, from health, to beauty, to spirituality. She is based in Florida, married to NHL alum Ron Duguay, and together, they are the proud parents of five children. To learn more, visit kimalexis.com.

I received the above book free of charge in exchange for this review; the opinion stated belongs to Tales of Mommyhood, and your opinion my vary

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

I See Me - My very own pirate tale

My oldest has loved pirates for the last 2  years or so. His 4th birthday had a pirate theme, and he was *this* close to another pirate party this year, when he opted for super hero's instead. Even though he changed his mind on the party, he is a real pirate fan.

When the opportunity came for me to review a copy of "My Very Own Pirate Tale" from I See Me books, I jumped at the chance.



It arrived around the time of his birthday, so he was thrilled with another birthday gift.  When you order the I See Me books, it gives you the chance to have a personalized message written to the child on the first page of the story.

The story is done in rhyme, and they use the letters of the child's name (first and last) and each letter is associated with some sort of sea creature, and a picture of that creature. At the end of the book, there is a glossary from A-Z with the creatures that are used, and a little bit about them.

Julien absolutely LOVED listening to me read the story - when he realized his name was in the book, he was so excited, but then confused.....but then excited again when I told him it was a special book JUST for him.

I See Me has a number of different personalized books and other items to choose from. The pirate book came with a pirate bandanna that was also personalized for Julien, and there is also a place mat that matches as well.

Until the end of August, you can use the code "MATEY" to receive 15% off any of the pirate items from the website.

Don't forget to connect with them on twitter and facebook.

I was sent the above product free of charge in exchange for a review; the opinion stated belongs to Tales of Mommyhood, your experience and opinion may vary.

Monday, August 6, 2012

Let them be messy

The other day, my kids were driving me crazy. With all the hot, humid weather we have had this summer, we have spent more time indoors than I would like. This particular day, it was quite nice outside; I decided that we needed to get out, but Jules didn't want to go for a walk.....so I packed them in the car and we headed to Michael's to buy finger paints.

We came home, put on our sunscreen and headed out to the backyard and playstructure - and I let them get messy. The 3 of us painted the playstructure, and they had sooooo soooo much fun  - Kyle kept running around yelling "I paint, I paint!". All they wanted was some time to be creative, and this allowed them that freedom. When we were done, we came inside and they had a much needed bath!

 A few pictures from our afternoon outside

Kyle with his paintbrush, Jules and Ky painting, and the mommy aftermath

Friday, August 3, 2012

when they pick things up from friends

I knew that once Julien started school, it was inevitable that he would pick up sayings/behaviours from his classmates.

I wasn't quite prepared for all the words he would come home with (LOTS of potty talk, like RIDICULOUS amounts - everything is "poopy pants" or "poopy face" or "poopy ideas") and it is driving me crazy.  Besides telling him that we don't talk like that (which the response is "so-and-so does) or that it is inappropriate, we only use potty words for the bathroom etc etc....what can I do?

Do your kids have friends that they pick up negative things from? How do you deal with it?


#Babyshower:Baby Shield from 7 A.M. Enfant

If you have a little one and will be out in the cold this winter, this is the giveaway for you!  7 A.M. Enfant is offering up a Baby Shield (colour/size of winners choice dependant on availability).  The Baby Shield is a two in one product with two interchangeable covers to protect against different weather conditions. One zippered cover protects from the extreme winter weather while the second zippered cover shields from the windy and moderately windy spring/fall days.

stroller not included
child/stroller not included
Use the rafflecopter form below to enter - US and Canadians that are 18 are eligible.
Thanks to Kidsumers for organizing this giveaway.

Thursday, August 2, 2012

#babyshower Playtex giveaway


New parents have a lot of decisions to make - breastfeeding or bottlefeeding? cloth vs disposables? what type of diaper system to use?
Why not enter the giveaway below to win a Playtex prize package? It includes a Playtex gift basket and diaper genie (valued at $150.00), as well as a $100.00 babies r us gift card.

Open to Canadians only

Thank you to Kidsumers for organizing this giveaway

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Chic Shoes for Mommy's - guest post


Chic Shoes for Mommy’s

The stereotype of fashionistas doesn’t include mothers, which I think is highly unfair. Any mother can be a chic and wear on-trend shoes, which are guaranteed to turn heads.
The secret to this is to be smart about your choice of shoe. If you’re off to a play day or taking the kids to school or around the park, then you won’t want to be wearing wedges or large heels. But this doesn’t mean that you have to settle for dull flats.
Here’s some inspiration courtesy of DUO…

These cobalt delta snake print pumps are comfortable, especially during the hotter temperatures, and add a fantastic pop of color to any outfit.  You can easily mix and match them with the rest of your outfit, whether you’ve opted for a casual jeans and tee look or a floral summer dress. 

These cascade nude patent sandals are another example of how flat shoes are being spiced up with a little fashionista magic. They remain practical, but nevertheless look elegant. The nude color makes them easy to match with your outfits, and the frills add a touch of femininity.

If you’re not a fan of frills, but you still want that subtle, yet highly effective feminine touch, then take a look at these Lithos black and grey leather sandals. They keep the heat out while showing off your style.
But a chic mommy doesn’t have to stick to flats all the time. There will be (possibly, rarely, but it will happen) that occasion when it’s time to go out for a nice meal, or attend that formal occasion or wedding; and for that you’ll want to show off some heels.

These fuchsia Harrington heels will turn heads especially if you combine them with an elegant black or navy dress, which will help this bright color really stand out.

Metallics and blue hues are a big trend this season, and the best thing about this trend is that you can find great items in a variety of styles, so stock up on high wedges and cool flats. 

Being a chic mommy can be tricky, so be sure to mix and match your shoes according to your day and your mood. Some days you may just need to wear some shoes that highlight your femininity, or you just crave some eye-popping colorful shoes.  

This is a guest post, written by the sponsor; compensation was received for posting