• My Daughter in a Nutshell

    22/02/2015 - By 

    I realize I never updated on the story I started the other day about the Girl on Girl Emotional Warfare.   Everything is fine now and it turns out Izzy was the instigator. The moment I put too much pressure on her at home to keep her writing tidy, she took it out on a girl at school and called her work “scribbles”. *facepalm* Needless to say the girl was hurt and the hurt feelings went back and forth. Izzy apologized to the girl and they are friends again. All of this could have been avoided if I put less…

  • Girl on Girl Emotional Warfare

    03/02/2015 - By 

    My daughter is 6 and over halfway through Grade 1.       She’s extremely empathetic and seems to thrive on routine and expected outcomes. She seems outgoing but has trouble expressing what she really needs from another person. (Which sometimes has her coming across as a pushover). One thing she has come to expect is how everyone in her class relates to each other, the personal relationships everyone has formed with each other, and when that shifts she feels like a tiny sailboat being rocked by a gigantic storm and thunderous waves. Today was no exception. One of the…

  • Tomorrow Might as Well be a Clear Day

    29/01/2015 - By 

    A few things happened to me in the last bit that have changed my perspective on things. I feel as if I am in a better head space lately. I read an article that encouraged me to quit self-sabotaging and love myself, jiggly bits and all, and quit trying to “improve” myself. Instead, love yourself as you are and you will do things that will make you happy naturally. When you feel emotionally balanced, you will become physically balanced. Then, push yourself in healthy ways to stay balanced and motivated. Take those small risks, treat yourself well, and keep smiling.…

  • To New Moms

    08/01/2015 - By 

    If I could write to all new moms I would say so many things. One of those things is that the biggest lie out there is it gets easier. You will just have to rise to new challenges. Some of these challenges will seem less, um, challenging than the last but it will never be easy. If it is easy then you have a kid who acts as if he is always on Prozac. Wait, that’s a new challenge right there. You will never feel like you have had enough sleep, you will never feel that you have enough time,…

  • How to Make Your Own Christmas Tree Advent Calendar

    08/12/2014 - By 

    Happy December! I meant to post this earlier but there is still time to make this if you wanted to. Just leave the days that have already passed empty or fill them with only tissue paper. Christmas Tree Advent Calender Here is what you need: Toilet paper rolls, cut in half. Enough to make 24 empty spots Tissue paper, in Christmas colours or only green. Your choice. Paint, watercolors or acrylic Candies (We used our leftover Halloween candy) Hot glue gun or clear craft glue. Piece of cardboard or card stock for backing (we left ours plain but you could…

  • Why I Love Weight Training

    13/11/2014 - By 

    This is our weight bench. It sits in front of the treadmill and my myriad of inspirational posters when I’m working out. When I hang out with the kids down there; after the weight bench has been pushed up against the wall again to make room for toys, I read those posters and it gives me actual motivation. So they aren’t there just for kicks. I was first introduced to the fitness world beyond cardio in Japan. I was there to teach English. At my first job it was basically tutoring. During a class, an older male student told me,…

  • Good News at the Doctor!

    11/11/2014 - By 

    Yesterday was a big day for me. Josh left for work really early and came back just after lunch so that I could go to my physical and get my test results at the doctor. I anxiously waited in the waiting room, literally sweating: AND IT WAS GOOD NEWS. Two ultrasounds and a bunch of blood tests later and we have found….. I am not celiac! I do not even have a non-celiac gluten intolerance! I am only gluten sensitive. So much relief. She said that if I was gluten-intolerant it would show up in my lab results. My inability…

  • Raising a Highly Sensitive Child.

    08/11/2014 - By 

    Today was tiring. Hunter has an ear infection and his fever fluctuated between 101-103F today. He puked at 3am and again 3 times during the day. I set him up with shows on a laptop upstairs and a bottle of coconut water. He sat quietly and watched, saying it hurt too much to lay down and that was what was causing him to throw up. Smart. So he sat up, surrounded by pillows. I came to check on him every 30 minutes. The kid I babysit was in the basement, also set up with shows since he also seemed low…

  • Environmentally Conscious

    29/10/2014 - By 

    I am trying to compile a list of ways to be environmentally friendly, or more so!  Always use a re-useable water bottle and re-useable container whenever possible. Use a whiteboard to write notes, such as a grocery list. Take a photo with your phone to take with you or to send to the person running errands. We use this for shopping lists rather than using a note or lists app on our phone because it’s easier to add to and we always think of the list at home.(Plus less time spent on your phone is good for your eyes etc).…

  • My Grade One Reading Corner

    18/10/2014 - By 

    Do you remember learning to read? I don’t really! I remember being three and a half and reading little words to my sister from picture books. My mom confirms this, so I am not crazy. To say it out loud sounds too young, but there I was, reading small words. I am sure that is quite common. I distinctly remember my grade one reading corner. Grade one seemed so daunting to me. A whole day around ‘strangers’. The reading nook was so comfortable and such a safe place for me to hang out. I felt at home there. When you…