Mom Knows Everything

The Bonds Of Sisterhood

2012-05-19T14:21:00.001-03:00

I come from a very large family. I have four brothers and three sisters, so in total there are eight kids. Because of so many siblings there are varying age differences between some of us. Some of us are only 18 months apart and some of us are almost 20 years apart. No matter the age difference we all love each other. I am especially close to all my sisters. One of them there is only an 18 month age difference so we basically grew up together as best friends and my two other sisters are much older than me and are mother figures to me and also best friends to me. There are different dynamics with my sisters and we all have our roles. One of them is who I get accounting advice from, one who I get medical advice from, and one who I know I can always depend on no matter how stupid the thing I need is. I'm the one who's the middleman, the one who mediates everything and with so many siblings sometimes a little mediation is required.

When it comes to medical advice, whether it's first aid, if there is any viruses going around, or even natural menopause treatments there is one specific sister I go to. She works at the hospital for a specialist doctor and I know I can always depend upon her for any medical questions I that I don't want to call my doctor and bother him with. Another great thing about having a sister who has a wide range of medical knowledge and connections is that I don't have to be embarrassed to ask her female questions. Because we are all so close I'm not embarrassed to ask her anything and can talk to her about anything. So when the time comes to find out about menopause and menopause supplements I know she will give me the best information and advice. I always tell my children when they argue with each other to remember that your siblings will always be there for you when you need them and they should be nice to each other. They will always love you.

Be Back Soon

2012-05-18T14:09:00.002-03:00

Sorry for the absence in posting the last few days. Due to a family medical emergency I have been absent from my computer. Hopefully things will get back to more normal in the next few days. Thank you all for you well wishes for my husband. He is doing much better and we will find out more information on Thursday.

Family, Friends, Fun and Music

2012-05-16T14:32:00.000-03:00

It's almost Victoria Day which means a long weekend here in Canada. In many communities there will be special events celebrating Victoria Day. One thing my family does on Victoria Day weekend is get together and have a family barbecue and after the barbecue we have a campfire. Since Victoria Day is the unofficial first long weekend of summer we also like to have fireworks. Besides the barbecue, campfire, and fireworks, we also like to have music. This could be something as simple as singing around the campfire or having a family jam session where everyone brings their guitars, E Mu keyboards, and other musical instruments. Music just makes the party even better.

Kick off the first unofficial long weekend of summer with family, friends, fun, and music!

Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

2012-05-16T11:22:00.002-03:00

I recently had a request for my chocolate chip cookies recipe again so here it is. Enjoy!

Chocolate Chip Cookies
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 cup softened margarine
1 egg
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Cream all above ingredients well. In a separate bowl add the following ingredients.
2 1/2 cup white flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/s teaspoon salt
Stir to blend and add the bowl of wet ingredients. Mix together well with spoon and add 1/2 cup of chocolate chips.

Drop by rounded spoonful onto un-greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees until light brown. Do not over bake.

Stop Cyberbullying

2012-05-14T13:45:00.000-03:00

Because of the computer age we live in things have certainly changed. Everything is now electronic, including bullying. Now a days children's bullying has become cyberbullying. Remember when bully was something stealing lunch money or someone saying someone has cooties? Now a days bullying has hit the internet full on. There have been cases in the news and on television shows about cyberbullying and even to the point where children have decided to end their lives because of this bullying.

Here in Canada a case of cyberbullying on Facebook is going to the Supreme Court of Canada. In this case a young girl became aware of a false Facebook page of her someone made scandalous sexual commentary of a private and intimate nature". Wendy Craig, a cyberbullying expert at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, stated that "in Canada, about 19 per cent of youth report being victimized by cyberbullies". These are the only ones who reported it. Imagine the number if all the kids reported it! Craig also states, "The impacts on victims of cyberbullying tend to be stronger than traditional bullying, and can include depressive symptoms, anxiety, social isolation and substance abuse."

If you are worried about cyberbullying, and as parents we all should be, there are options we can use to help. There are online services such as reputationdefender that can help you control over the information about you and your children that’s available online.They provides a monthly report on what people are saying about you/your children on the Internet and can remove negative comments.

I encourage all you parents to talk to your children about cyberbullying. Find out if they have been a victim of it. Let them know that cyberbullying is wrong. It's hurtful and really cause serious damage. Bullying is bullying and as parents we have to protect our children and stop bullying.

Happy Mother's Day

2012-05-13T13:37:00.000-03:00

Happy Mother's Day to all you moms out there from Mom Knows Everything. You're all supermoms!

Making Toys

2012-05-11T11:43:00.000-03:00

Now that the cold weather has gone I am no longer knitting hats, mittens, and sweaters. Instead I'm knitting toys, and it's costing me next to nothing to make them. I simply use leftover yarn, some fiberfill, and free patterns I've found online.

In no time I've made these cute toys for next to nothing, and the kids love them. The little boy with his dog is a replica of my son, who has blond curly hair, and his dog Drake.

Color Coupon

2012-05-10T12:27:00.000-03:00

Summer is coming and it's time for a fresh new you! From now until June 15th, you can get a 20% off any color service coupon to use at participating salons in the U.S. and Canada! This offer is valid at Best Cuts, BoRics, Famous Hair, HairMasters, Head Start, Holiday Hair, Saturday's, Style America and TGF Hair Salons. To find a location near you and print a copy of your coupon, simply enter your information here.

Stylists at participating salons provide services to make you look and feel your most fabulous. Color services are no exception. Just sit back and let the pros help you discover your dream shade for the summer months, and beyond!

This is not a sponsored post. It's just a great opportunity for you to not only look good and feel good, but save money at the same time.

Get Your Carpet Clean The GREEN Way

2012-05-08T12:43:00.001-03:00

Once or twice a year there are big cleaning projects that need to be done. One of these cleaning projects are carpet cleaning. With a houseful of kids and pets I know just how quickly a carpet gets dirty, and where there is dirt there is germs. As mothers we want to keep our children safe and healthy, and we want our homes to look good. This means getting our carpets cleaned.

Carpet cleaning is a big chore and to get the best results it's best to get it professionally done. This brings up two issues, price and safety. There is a great company called GreenChoice that can help you with both of these.

As parents we worry about our children and the effects chemicals and cleaners can have on them. We like to use GREEN products to keep them safe and so does GreenChoice. GreenChoice Carpet, Upholstery & Rug Cleaning specializes in cleaning the GREEN way! They use natural organic cleaning products that have all the safest rating under OSHA. GreenChoice cares about your family's health as much as you do and use GREEN products to keep them safe.

The last issue is price. GreenChoice not only has great competitive prices, but they also offer great coupons too. The offer a variety of monthly coupons right on their website and if what you're looking for isn't there they offer first time customers discounts as well.

If you're looking for area rug cleaning nj or carpeting cleaning in San Francisco then GreenChoice is the place you need to check out. Going GREEN is how we keep our family and our planet safe so why would you use any other company except for a GREEN one?

Confessions Of A Mom

2012-05-08T11:34:00.002-03:00

I recently read an article Shine From Yahoo entitled 5 Disgusting Things Moms Do With Their Toddlers. In this article the author listed five things she thought should make the list. These are Pre-Chewing Food, Nose Picking, Cleaning Ears, Spit Shinning Faces, and Catching Puke With Your Bare Hands.

What I want you to do is head on over to the article and read it, simply click the above link to take you there, and then come back here and then let me know which one of the things in the list you have done. Come on now, it's confession time. I'll even go first! I know it sounds gross, but I'll admit to catching puke in my bare hands. It's automatic I guess. You're child is going to puke and you simply want to save having to wash all the bedding.

Okay, so that's my confession. What's yours?

Scared Of Needles

2012-05-07T12:06:00.000-03:00

My children are very different. Besides the fact that one is a girl and one is a boy and there is a great age difference between the two of them. My daughter is in high school while my son is in grade one and I deal with very different problems with the two of them. My daughter has typical teen aged girl problems like clothes, makeup, and boys, while my son has learning to tie his shoes and basic issues like that to learn.

Besides the age and different genders they are very different kids. My son loves going to the dentist while my daughter is scared to death of the dentist. The same goes for needles. My son isn't scared of them, while my daughter is terrified of them. I found a great solution that helps with my daughters fear of needles, music. When my daughter has to have blood work I get her to listen to her MP3 player with her eyes closed and it helps so much with her nerves that she isn't afraid anymore. Sure, she's still a little nervous at the thought, but listening to music with her eyes closed allows the technician to draw her blood without me having to hold her arm still. So whether it's lab work San Jose or at your local hospital, if your child is scared of needles give this a try. It just may help.

Helping Your Flower Garden Grow

2012-05-04T10:56:00.000-03:00

My father was an avid gardener and he passed down his love for flowers to me. Growing up I was always helping my father in the flowerbeds and because of all that he taught me growing up about flowers I have had many compliments on my flowers.

When it comes to flowers there are 3 rules my father taught me; weed, water, and fertilize! My father went around all the flower beds daily looking for weeds to pull. We all know that flowers need water to grow and my father always used a combination of water and Miracle Grow plant food to make his flowers grow. The last thing is to fertilize your flowers. My father always said the best thing to use is natural manure. Now if you don't live near a farm like we do were you can get manure straight from the barn the best option is to get organic manure.

Enjoy your flowers!

Stove In A Can Review

2012-05-01T10:38:00.000-03:00

I learned my lesson last year to be prepared in case of an emergency. When hurricane Irene hit us it left tens of thousands of people in my area without power. I was without power for 4 days and it was horrible. Besides the fact that the kids were upset because it was so dark in the evenings, it was really hard to cook anything to give them a hot meal. I relied on the BBQ to cook everything, including boiling water for coffee. After the third day of using the BBQ constantly we ran out of propane and because the whole area was affected by the power loss it was impossible to get more propane for the BBQ. Because of this disastrous event I know have emergency kit that will help us get through another long term power outage. The only problem is I do not like storing an extra propane tank. It makes me nervous having such a flammable container around. I found a great solution though. It's called Stove In A Can.

About Stove In A Can -

"Stove In A Can is a patented, easy to use portable stove that includes everything you need to cook anytime, anywhere, and in any weather. It was specifically designed to be simple enough for anyone to use, and dependable enough to be reliable in any situation. It is the ideal
emergency and recreational stove. Stove In A Can uses a unique fuel source called fuel cells. These fuel cells are made of a patent-pending formulation of recycled wood chips and food grade wax. They are specifically designed for optimal heat output when used in Stove In A Can stoves. Stove In A Can fuel cells are an incredibly safe and reliable fuel source. They are non-explosive, water resistant, and have an indefinite shelf life. Each fuel cell burns for about an hour and can be extinguished and re-lit multiple times. Stove In A Can emergency stoves come with everything needed to cook, including water-proof matches, all sealed up in an air-tight can. This makes Stove In A Can the ideal choice for an emergency stove."

Boils water in 5 minutes with each fuel cell lasting over an hour
(Includes 4 fuel cells for 4-5 hours of cooking time!)
Uses a safe, waterproof fuel source that can be stored indefinitely
Retails for under $30

My thoughts -

I was really impressed by Stove In A Can. It was easy to use and very easy to light even on a windy day like the day I first tried it.The set up was super fast and I was cooking in no time! I even boiled water for coffee just to try it out and I was very impressed with just how well it worked. Besides the fact that it works so well and sets up so quickly there are a few other things that I really like about Stove In A Can. I love the fact that it doesn't use an explosive fuel like propane in the BBQ. I also love the fact that when you are done using it you can simply put on the lid and light it again. Since each fuel cell lasts for about an hour if you only need to use it for 10 minutes you can simply put it out and reuse it. There is no waste! Stove In A Can is great for emergency situations and can also be used while camping.

You can find out more about Stove In A Can and purchase it from Stove In A Can website StoveInACan.com.

The product in this review was given to me free of charge for review. My review and opinions are not influenced by this or any source, they are my honest opinion of the product. No other form of compensation has been given. I am not responsible for the statements made by the sponsoring companies or it's affiliates. Click here for my disclosure policy.

Camera Critters #212

2012-04-28T20:42:00.001-03:00

Camera Critters is a weekend meme, about what else but critters, created my very own BBFF, Misty.

Father's Day is coming up and I recently asked my daughter what she wanted to get for her father and grandfather. I also asked her what kind of flowers did she want to get for her other grandfathers grave. My father passed away almost 8 years ago and my daughter was extremely close to him and when he passed away she was devastated. Every year she picks out what flowers to place on his grave for Fathers Day. When I asked her what she wanted to get she had a list of possible Fathers Day gifts to impress your guy she was still deciding on, but for her special grandfather that passed away she had a different idea for this year. As I said every year she got flowers for his grave, but this year she wanted to do something different. Her grandfather was born and raised on a farm and cared a great deal about animals. She recently gotten an assignment for school about a NGO and she chose one that was close to my fathers heart, one about farms and their rights. Her assignment was about CANFact, the Canadian Farm Animal Care Trust, which is a charitable non-government organization dedicated to the welfare of farm animal. Her assignment consisted of a 1000 word essay and a 10 minute presentation including a video. She dedicated her assignment to him and although I didn't load the video up here, I did load up a screen shot of it. I think this was a beautiful way to remember her grandfather.

Dawn Coffee Stain Remover

2012-04-27T12:56:00.000-03:00

We all know that Dawn dish washing detergent works great at getting dishes sparkling clean, but did you know Dawn works great at something else? Dawn is a great coffee stain remover. As a busy mom I drink coffee on the run and for some reason I always end up with some spilled on my shirt. It's like there is a magnetic attraction between my shirt and the coffee. Instead of spending money on expensive stain remover I found that Dawn works great at removing coffee stains and since I use it for washing dishes I already have it in my home and don't have to spend extra money on stain remover. Try it, it works for me!

Saving Money On Prom

2012-04-26T13:19:00.001-03:00

It's almost May and that means the end of the school year is quickly approaching. To those parents who have children graduating from high school this year the end of the school year is a very exciting and hectic time of year. There are so many grad class events not to mention graduation and prom. If you are like me and have a daughter graduating prom is one of the most important days in a girls life, but it's also very expensive. There's hair, makeup, shoes, accessories, and the most expensive of all the prom dress.

A great way to save some money during prom season is by checking out sales, looking online, and even purchasing second hand from last years graduating class. Last year my daughter went to prom with her boyfriend who was graduating and I was able to purchase this dress from a friend of hers that graduated the year before. Since the dress was only worn once it was still as good as new and instead of paying $400 for the dress I only paid $100 for it. Now that's a big savings and no one knew while she was walking down the red carpet between the stanchions that it was a second hand dress. They all just said how beautiful it was.

Filled Chocolate Covered Cupcakes

2012-04-26T12:59:00.003-03:00

Everyone loves cupcakes, but here is a little twist on cupcakes, filled chocolate covered cupcakes.

To make filled chocolate covered cupcakes all you need to do is make your favorite type of cupcakes. When cooled cut a cone shaped piece out of the middle of them and fill the hole with icing. Cut the cone shape piece off the cap and replace the cap like a lid over the icing hole. Then melt chocolate and icing the cupcake. Cool until set and enjoy. It's simple and who doesn't love lots of chocolate?

Reputation.com Protects Your Personal Information

2012-04-25T13:52:00.000-03:00

When it comes to the Internet we all worry about what we put on there whether it's on our Facebook accounts or personal financial information when we purchase something or simply pay bills online. As parents we also worry about what information our children put on there. We all have heard the horror stories about the Internet. We've watched on the news stories about identity theft and how people have lost their life savings because of it. We have also seen on the news stories about cyberstalking, especially with teens. The Internet can be a very scary place, but in today's day and age the Internet is a part of life.

We've been told that once you put something on the Internet it's there forever. That's true, until now that it. Reputation.com is an online reputation manager that searches the Internet for you and alerts you when anything regarding you have been put on the Internet by you or anyone else. They also know how to remove personal information from the internet so there is no need to worry about any of your personal information you don't want anyone to see being out there in cyberspace. They offer both personal and business solutions to help keep your personal information private.

Not only does Reputation.com protect you, but it will also protect your children, and as parents we all want our children to be protected. If you and/or your children use the Internet then Reputation.com can help protect you and your family.

Cool Cuts 4 Kids $5 Off Coupon

2012-04-24T13:17:00.001-03:00

Taking your child for a haircut can sometimes be an ordeal, but not when you take them to Cool Cuts 4 Kids!Cool Cuts 4 Kids is the nations largest salon chain geared toward children. Their friendly stylists apply techniques that work with each kid’s temperament, special needs or sensory difficulties. They offer fun-filled entertainment zones that cater to kids of all ages which include the latest and greatest in toys, video games and movies. Your child can even watch their favorite movie or play Xbox games while they are getting their haircut.

Cool Cuts 4 Kids offer a wide variety of services which includes.

Cool Cut - haircut with quick dry
Cool Cut Supreme - haircut, shampoo and quick dry
Cool Cut Deluxe - haircut, shampoo and finished style (can include curling iron or single braid)
Biggies Cut (ages 16 & over) - haircut, shampoo and quick dry
First Haircut Memories Package - certificate with holder for lock of hair and photo (photo not included)
Bubbles & Lotion - shampoo and conditioner
Cool Treatment - clarifying, detangling or scalp treatment
Bang Trim
Cool Look - Blow-dry style or single braid
Extra Cool Look - Blow-dry, curling iron (excludes ringlet curls), 2 or more braids, basic twists, knots and ponytails
Super Cool Look - Extra Cool Look plus an updo or ringlets

Cool Cuts 4 Kids invites moms and their children to check out the nation’s largest salon chain for kids with a coupon good for $5 off any service $11.95 or higher for all new customers. Click here to print a copy of the $5 off coupon!

Eye Care For Your Children

2012-04-23T12:56:00.000-03:00

Eye care is as important as health care and dental care, especially for your children. It is recommended that your child's vision be tested before they enter school and every year or two after that according to what your eye doctor suggests.

Don't worry if your child doesn't not know their alphabet yet, they don't need to in order to take a vision test. They have special eye charts for children with shapes instead of letters. The eye doctor makes the test simple and fun for children. My daughter was 5 when she was diagnosed with astigmatism and required treatment involving patching her eye for over a year. Luckily now her vision is great, but still requires to wear glasses occasionally.

Your child's vision is very important so if you haven't had your child's eyes checked yet then make an appointment with your local richmond hill optometrist today.

Leftover Easter Chocolate

2012-04-23T12:11:00.000-03:00

If you're anything like my family you still have loads of leftover Easter chocolates left. A great way to get rid of the leftover chocolate is to buy it from your children and use it in baking. I usually give my children $5 for their leftover chocolate. By this time they are had their full of chocolate and are happy to get money they can add to their piggy banks that they are saving up to buy something special with. You then can freeze the chocolate and use it in baking.

Camera Critters #211

2012-04-21T22:03:00.001-03:00

Camera Critters is a weekend meme, about what else but critters, created my very own BBFF, Misty.

You don't need a lab balance scale to know that our dog Princess is way too big for this dog bed. The dog bed actually belongs to our other dog Drake who is a small dog, but for some reason he doesn't like to sleep in it. Drake prefers to sleep at the foot of my bed instead, so I guess that means Princess gets the little bed all to herself.

Sobeys BOGO Sale

2012-04-21T21:53:00.002-03:00

It's BOGO week again at Sobeys so if you're going to get groceries then check out the great deals they have going on. Here are just a few of the great BOGO (Buy One Get One free) deals they have -

Kraft BBQ Sauce 455 ml
Dempster Grainhouse Bread 600 g
Christie Snacking Crackers 100 - 454 g
Ivory Bar Soap pkg of 3's
Maple Leaf Hotdogs original or bbq

They have lots and lots of more BOGO deals so if you live in Atlantic Canada grab your Sobeys flyer and see what you need and can save one.

Check your local Sobeys flyer for exact details on size, description, and availability of products.

Getting Your Child To Read

2012-04-19T07:30:00.001-03:00

My teen aged daughter often uses the computer for her homework and researching projects. I on the other hand uses it for things like websites like this one, http://www.dietpillsideeffects.com/phytodren-side-effects/ as I'm still trying to lose that ten pounds I gained over Christmas. Recently my son who is in grade 1 has started using the computer a lot too. No, it's not for video games. It's for a website called Raz-Kids.com. It's an online library of books for children in kindergarten to grade 6. It's set up through his school to encourage children to read more and I have to tell you my son loves it. I also love it because it's getting my son to read more.

Ask your child's teacher about Raz-Kids.com.

Home Made Simple Cleaning Tips For BBQ's

2012-04-18T13:41:00.003-03:00

It's officially BBQ season at my home, and as well as many other homes. The first time you break out the BBQ at the start of a new season you are often frustrated at the sight of the grill. You could have sworn you cleaned the grill the last time you used it, but for some weird reason it's dirty.

Don't fear though, Home Made Simple has a great article on cleaning your BBQ.Thanks to this article our first BBQ of the season was a success and the kids loved the burgers!