Category: Uncategorized

Crazy going slowly am I.

Okay, here’s a humorous comic strip that was sent to me via my mother.    I found it appropriate for my ill frame of my mind today!

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, Switch…

Ohmygoodness today has not been a happy day at our house!  I will be the first to admit I’m glad the windows are closed as there has been lots of yellin’ going on.    Not one of my prouder moments, but seriously, between the mud, the dog who is chewing us out of house and home, and two mad monkeys who will not stop fighting, throwing, pinching, hitting, yelling “Mommy” every 30 seconds, and to top it off a couple of extra kids this morning who suddenly forgot every rule we have in place, I think I just might snap! 

Oooookay… breathe in, breathe out!  Counting down til after school when we can hit the park and playground.     (Our backyard would be fantastic, but since they developed behind us and we took home a puppy who digs like crazy, I think the muck might swallow them whole!  Would it be bad if I let that happen???  Just kidding – I won’t sacrifice them to the mud.)

Ok, so if you have young ones running around underfoot and the thought of another half-hour of Dora, Diego or Hannah Montana makes you want to scream, check out this site:

http://www.jellytelly.com/

Jelly Telly is a fun kid-friendly media from Phil Vischer, the creator of Veggie Tales.   The site features a free weekly show, some games and you should really check out the “Grown Up” section for interesting facts and background on the Jelly Telly concept.   The clips present educational content and present Bible facts to kids who are exposed to all kinds of media (and I’m NOT saying that media they’re exposed to is always bad) – this just provides a Christian alternative.

Apparently, limited clips are also available on YouTube and he’s also created some fun DVDs called “What’s In The Bible”  featuring “Buck Denver”, a character from the Jelly Telly media.    I love this!   You can guarantee that I’ll be exposing my monkeys (and probably my nephews) to this wonderful creation.

Ok, so I’m adding a quick edit to say that episodes of “What’s In The Bible” and shorts from Jelly Telly can be purchased and downloaded on the What’s In The Bible website.   Also, What’s In the Bible has a YouTube channel:  http://www.youtube.com/user/whatsinthebible.

I saw these mimiTENS mittens in an email from Savvymom and I have to say, they’re ingenious!   Someone had their thinking cap on 🙂

Available in assorted baby (no thumb) and toddler sizes (with thumbs), they stop that whining about snow in the sleeve.    A similar idea to the long ‘snowmobile’ mitt but with an extra dash of cuteness and no zippers!   I absolutely love them.

Made of water-repellant nylon, lined with Thinsulate and bamboo fleece, and featuring extra-long cotton-lycra cuffs, they’re a great idea for your cold weather adventurer. 

I prefer the girl selection to the boy but the designs ARE adorable.  They also carry a line of soft mitts, hats and scarves. The brand is a little pricey (unfortunately) – but if you had a kid who complained all winter long I could see the investment being worth it.  (Or maybe you’re just a mom like me who likes to indulge in a little whimsy once in awhile!) 

Check out the full selection of mimiTENS on the website – it also provides a list of retail locations:  http://www.mimitens.com/

If you’re feeling whimsical and plan to order, the SavvyMom bonus code is: savvy10 for an additional 10% off until March 19.  They’d make cute little stocking stuffers for that cute little monkey in your life!

I saw this quote earlier today and I loved it:

“There are no rules of architecture for a castle in the clouds.” ~ G.K. Chesterton

It’s imagination – it has no limits except for those imposed by our own limited minds.   It is not reality, it doesn’t have to follow any rules of logic, it just has to be thought to be so – this is the wonder of imagination.

My boys, like most children, have wonderful imaginations and I enjoy just sitting back and unobtrusively observing this imagination at play.   (Today they are elephant keepers.  Justin does the groceries while carrying around “an angry robot” and Kaleb is looking after a baby who apparently keeps pooping on him.)

Earlier, their elephants were hungry so they (the boys) climbed on the arm of the couch, elephants in hand, searching through the leaves of the dwarf umbrella tree plant I keep on the fireplace to see if they could find food.   Apparently there are snakes and lizards living in this jungle of a plant…  I thought I just housed dust bunnies.

A few moments later, I hear the hushed “Don’t tell Mommy” followed by a quick furtive glance in my direction.   (Don’t they realise Mommy’s hearing rapidly improves upon that statement?)  “Uh, don’t tell Mommy what, Kaleb?”   “This elephant was hungry but he was tired so he couldn’t walk to get food.  I got him some leaves. Sorry”.   This is true… there are now tiny crumpled leaves all over my carpet.  I’m glad I haven’t vacuumed yet!

Other times, our home has been invaded by pirates (who apparently own green markers and like to draw on walls.)   We’re also frequently visited by aliens who have this undeniably strange appetite for stuffed animals.   Diesel, our puppy, is a dangerous tiger, who lies in wait, ready to attack.  (I’m guessing this is due to his brindle ‘striped’ appearance)  “Shhh…don’t wake up the tiger.  He’ll eat us!”  

Their most favourite game of make believe is all about molten streams of lava and erupting volcanoes (also known as “ercanoes”.)  They’re very careful about the hot lava, jumping from couch to chair and building pathways out of books, traveling in special lava-proof boats or donning lava-proof shoes.  This hot lava prevents them from walking to the table at dinner time:  “The hot lava will get me”;  putting on their coats and boots:  “I can’t walk in the hot lava.”;  playing safely at the park:  “Ahhhhhhhhhh….I’m falling in hot lava!”

Oh the wonders of the imagination.  The freedom, the possibilities, the transportation from reality to make-believe.   Let it soar!

I am by no means a connnoisseur of tea or coffee based beverages but I enjoy a well-brewed cup of tea and the occasional mocha or latte.   The debate on loose-leaf vs. bagged means nothing to me – I can hear it but I will still buy an occasional bagged tea if it sounds appealing.  I’m not a purist and will drink my tea black, milk and sugar, sugar, honey & milk, just honey – whatever tickles my fancy.

I’ve tried a few brands and flavours and am always itching to try something new.  I favour black and white teas to green teas and am trying to develop a taste for fresh-brewed ice teas not loaded with sugar.   My all time favourite tea is Stash White Christmas – a wonderful white tea blended with peppermint and ginger.   I’ve only tried their bagged variety but have a package of loose leaf just waiting to be sipped.

The hostess section at Chapters is always a delight to explore.  I’ve noticed the Tea Forte line but haven’t tried it yet.   I find it’s a visually appealing brand – the packaging just catches the eye.  I’m so very excited because on one of my discount shopping sites, the featured products were the Tea Forte brand – so I’ve placed an order and can’t wait for it to come in!

There is nothing more relaxing or soothing to start, endure or end a stressful, busy day than to wrap your hands around a warm cup of tea, grab a good book and soak in the tub.   When I can’t enjoy all three, I’ll take the book and the tea – Canada’s own Steeped Tea Ginger Peach is my brew of choice today.

Here are a couple sites offering first-hand reviews of a variety of teas and tips on brewing:
Teaviews  &  The Tea Review Blog