momstown moments

momstown moments has MOVED!

noreply@blogger.com (Ann-Marie) — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 14:43:00 +0000

Happy Canadians!

noreply@blogger.com (Ann-Marie) — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 14:00:00 +0000

Happy Canada Day momstown! We hope everyone is able to take a sweet day "off"to spend with your family and celebrate our fabulous country!

If you're looking for a few fun crafty things to do - here's an idea - try painting Canada flags on rocks. They are simple to make with found rocks (anyone at the beach this weekend) and are cute decorations for the Canada day table, doorstop or just a nice craft to show off!

We have a GREAT birthday present for you all -- we have 5 new blogs launching over the weekend. Watch for a fun announcement next week as we officially reveal them all. Here's a hint though -- you can start reading this blog over HERE.

momstown check boxes!

noreply@blogger.com (Ann-Marie) — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 02:50:00 +0000

Have your say in how to make momstown better for you! Participate in the momstown member & media survey.

We'd like to know more about what you like and how you use and participate with momstown. Your thoughts are very important to us!

Click here to fill in the 5 minute survey and be entered to win a $25 Starbucks card!

Product Review: You are sooooo Beautiful

noreply@blogger.com (Ann-Marie) — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 14:26:00 +0000

I'm a big book lover so I'm thrilled that momstown had a chance to review a recently published children's book. My kind of product review!

You are Sooooooo Beautiful by Leanne Power is a lovely story about the relationship between little girl Marley Rae and her Auntie. The larger themes were focused on building self-esteem, respecting differences in others and recognising ones inner beauty. Such important topics to discuss with our kids, especially our girls.

Pretty big topics for a four year old, but when I read this book with my daughter she heard the message loud and clear. Lauren's recap was "If I'm bossy then I'm not letting my friend be herself" and "we all look different and we are all beautiful".

The topic of inner beauty was a bit too conceptual for my kindergartner but I'm sure that slightly older children would have a deeper understanding. It was also a good reminder to mama not to squash my child's independent and creative spirit - let her shine and let her be beautiful in her own way.

Great story from an Alberta mom with a great message that we're proud to support!

momstown meals photo contest!!

noreply@blogger.com (Ann-Marie) — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 18:47:00 +0000

Who can use an extra $100 in grocery money???

Enter our momstown meals photo contest to WIN!

How?

1. Send in a picture (email to contests@momstown.ca) of your child in a food themed picture (eating, cooking, messing, whatever...)

2. momstown will load the picture up onto our Facebook Fan Page into the momstown meals album.

3. VOTE for your child and encourage friends to vote -- just by making a comment under the picture.

People can vote for as many sweet pics as they wish, but just once per photo. Voters do need to be fans of momstown but it's as simple as clicking the 'like' button to become one.

Prizes:

Grand Prize: $100 Grocery store gift card + 1 yr momstown membership + feature on momstown meals

2nd Prize: 1 year momstown membership + feature in momstown meals

3rd Prize: 6 month momstown membership + feature on momstown meals

Contest runs from June 15-25th. Keep visiting & voting. It's day 2 and we already have 160+ incredible photo entries!

Check out the hilarious album here!

Product Review: AppleCheeks Swim Diaper

noreply@blogger.com (Ann-Marie) — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 04:09:00 +0000

Baby Megan took her first swim this weekend and her wee tush was wrapped in an AppleCheeks Washable Swim Diaper!

We know AppleCheeks for their Canadian made reusable cloth diapers. I haven't converted to cloth (yet) so I blindly throw out regular disposable diapers everyday, but buying and tossing out disposable swim diapers irks me to no end.

My kids swim a lot -- swimming lessons in the winter, backyard pool in the summer and Grandma & Papa have a beach. We've spent a mint on swim diapers.

Voila - an AppleCheeks Swim diaper! I don't need to buy another swim diaper!!!

Super cute like the regular AppleCheeks line, they come in 2 sizes and 2 colours (Bonfire & Corsica). 100% polyester Canadian milled mesh is comfortable and breezy to wear at the beach or pool.

What I love just as much as the diaper is the fact these were designed by Montreal moms and manufactured in Canada. All good things all round.

How did Megan's first dip go? Well, the water was a bit chilly for her liking but I bet her bum felt comfy!

momstown is tweet, tweet, tweeting!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Ann-Marie) — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 03:29:00 +0000

What's that sound?

Oh, it's momstown TWEETING!

Since momstown.ca is already a form of social media itself with our continuous conversations on our own forums, we have always been engaging with our local community both online & IRL (in real life)!Twitter had not been our focus as our mama members were already chatting (and meeting) with us everyday.

But, you can't ignore the blue tweeting bird and so momstown is joining into the conversation full speed ahead.

We look forward to collaborating with our momstown twitter friends and connecting with others within our local (and not so local) communities.

At momstown, our goal is to connect local neighbourhood moms - so find us on twitter and see how we can help connect even more moms!

Log on to find us and our twitter handles at:
momstown total: @momstownca
momstown Burlington, Oakville & Milton merged as @momstownHalton
momstown Guelph: @momstownGuelph
momstown Kitchener-Waterloo: @momstownkw
momstown Hamilton: @momstownHamilt
momstown Toronto Bloor West Village: @momstownToronto
momstown Markham: @momstownMarkham
momstown Georgina: @momstownGeorgna
momstown Newmarket-Aurora: @momstownAurora
momstown Barrie: @momstownbarrie

momstown Edmonton SE: @momstownEdmS
momstown Edmonton NW: @momstownEdmN
momstown Calgary N: @momstownCalgaryN
momstown Central Alberta: @momstownCtrlAb

momstown mama 1st annual thinktank!!

noreply@blogger.com (Ann-Marie) — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 03:49:00 +0000

Throw momstown mamas into a house for the weekend with the goal of building a plan for each momstown chapter... and what do you get?

Inspiration! Excitement! FUN! (& a pajama party without a pillow fight!)

Our Ontario licensed chapters gathered at momstown 'central' in Burlington this past weekend while the Alberta clan met in Central Alberta. Tele-conference kept us all connected for the important elements and we brainstormed and learned together!

With laptops & teeny nursing babies on our laps we hustled to redefine our 2010-2011 strategies. What would a momstown meeting be without babies? We are MOMStown after all!

Julie Cole from Mabels Labels joined us to share her experience with word of mouth and social media marketing.

Alison Burke from Impressions PR also stopped by to media train us all. Bring on the media opportunites. Posture is good and key messages practised - our girls are ready!

Of course, we had a little wine and brainstorming on the deck (it was a beautiful day Saturday!) and went out for dinner for great garlicy Greek Food!

It was also awesome to look out the front window and see the street lined with team momstown vehicles!

It was just such a motivational weekend for both Christi & I and our licensed chapters. Can't wait to do it again every June! And even in a few weeks with our own Halton team!

Boy oh boy are we ever ready to help reach more neighbourhood moms!!

Product Review: Mama & Earth Friendly Thula Change Mat

noreply@blogger.com (Ann-Marie) — Mon, 31 May 2010 23:59:00 +0000

My four year old asked if she could play with the baby's "yoga mat". The Thula Eco Mat is a diaper changing system but it certainly could remind you of a tiny hygenic and waterproof yoga mat for your zen baby...

The Thula Eco Mat is an earth friendly, multi-purpose comfy mat for baby to lay or play on. It rolls up easily for transport and has a little clip to hold it together to tuck away. It's meant as a surface for no-slip diaper changes but has many other uses too.

The Puddle Pad (gosh, is that not a cute name!?) is the compatible, washable, absorbant pad that is used right under the baby's bottom to well, catch any spills when changing a diaper. The Puddle Pads come in three colours and two varieties, Microfibre or Organic Cotton. They would be great with or without the Eco Mat and are small enough to tuck anywhere.

A Canadian mom entrepreneur developed these products out of environmental responsibility. She's created a funky, useful and eco-friendly product perfect for all us moms.

The only thing that keeps momstown from rating this a 5/5 is the length of the Eco Mat versus the comparable alternatives. Although it easily rolls up, the Eco Mat might poke out of a traditional diaper bag. Overall a great product and momstown gives it 4/5 'moms'! (See our video trial below!)

"Mommy, please help me!"

noreply@blogger.com (Ann-Marie) — Mon, 31 May 2010 02:58:00 +0000

On Wednesday, the kids were sitting on the kitchen floor eating raw green beans. I was washing dishes. Andrew started to be silly and four year old Lauren starting giggling and then laughing harder.

Suddenly, she stopped laughing and got super quiet. Choking on the green bean. Trying to cough but it was useless.

I got down on her level and asked if she could talk. She hardly got out the words but what she did gasp shook me to the core. "Mama, please help me". Her eyes were so scared.

What do you do!? She was talking so she could breathe but barely. Ironically, I was signed up for a Child First Aid course - in three days. I had once seen a demo for a choking baby (tip them over vertically and wallop their back) so I was literally imagining this and about ready to pick up a 40 pound child and flip her.

Miraculously, at that moment she vomited everything up. Green beans and all her lunch. I've never been so happy to see vomit. We both sat there shaking for a couple of minutes and then normal life resumed.

Holy Scary. And really, my husband and I were already signed up for the course. How could I have been parenting daily without basic first aid certification? I'd expect it of a childcare provider but I don't have it!?

I can fix up a scraped knee. I've lugged kids to the ER for peas up noses and nickels down throats and we even have a classic nut allergy with one kid but, in terms of general emergencies we've been really lucky so far (knock on wood). What do you do if a child (or adult) is choking and they don't vomit? Or has a serious head bang? Or stops breathing? Honestly, I wasn't sure.

My husband & I took that planned Child CPR & First Aid workshop this past Saturday morning and can you say Relief!? I feel so much better knowing more and having the basic skills (and practise!) to help save a life. I can not even imagine the guilt and sorrow if something happened and I didn't have the knowledge to save my child.

Our 2 hour workshop was with Valerie (so love her!) from ETR-CPR who I would soooo recommend. She has done many workshops with momstown member clients (oddly, I hadn't yet attended a momstown session) and Valerie enstills confidence in all parents.

I understand why parents don't take a course, because we hadn't either. You figure you remember the CPR you learned in grade 5 at swimming lessons or you don't have time.

But when that bean stuck, my panicked guilt was huge. Imagine if it didn't dislodge? The last words I would have heard my child say could have been "Mama, please help me". (shiver)

At least now I'd know what to do.

Potty Bootcamp!

noreply@blogger.com (Ann-Marie) — Tue, 25 May 2010 03:45:00 +0000

There's no better way to spend a long weekend than .... potty training!!! Forget the relaxing beer & BBQ, it's all about the uninterrepted time to train!

The spring weather combined with the fact that Andrew just turned 2.5 years old and has a good awareness about the toliet meant this 3 day weekend at home was a perfect opportunity for potty bootcamp.

With my first child, the training process took a very long 8 months since we were more eager than her. This time there was no way we were going to rush Andrew. I turned to momstown for some research and advice and every seasoned momstown mom told me to wait till he was ready (check!) and use REWARDS.

Armed with lots of stickers and M&Ms we kick started the process. A Lightening McQueen cars sticker plus one M&M for every 'pee' and a shiny big construction vehicle sticker plus 2 M&Ms for a poop. Let the meaning of a Dump Truck not be lost on you....

I sign off after a good day 3 (just two accidents in the whole weekend!) and with a bag of 6 fresh underwear and shorts stashed in his backpack for school tomorrow. May the force be with him as he tries out his new skill in a new place. I'm so proud of my big boy!

"we all go down together.."

noreply@blogger.com (Ann-Marie) — Thu, 20 May 2010 00:43:00 +0000

On a recent car ride when kids would not stop whining/yelling/misbehaving, I took Dora out of the CD player and swapped her for the only adult CD that was within reach. It was a Billy Joel greatest hits CD.

Interestingly, they loved it. They now call it the "mommy wins" CD because that day I told them that I won and was taking away their beloved Dora jingles.

This Billy Joel CD is now playing for every single trip - long or short - in my car.

You can also imagine that 2 kids in full carseats and one baby in an infant seat is a very squished backseat of an SUV. In the house, I carefully monitor and ensure to never, ever leave a toddler alone or close to an infant. In the car however, I deliberately strap them in crammed just centimetres away from one another. Perfect poking distance actually. Makes a whole lot of sense doesn't?

Before you ask me (like everyone does) why I don't have a van, let me just interrupt that thought to say, I have to make due with the paid off vehicle for now.

Back to my squishy backseat and my curious 2year old son who has been pretty good about keeping his pudgy little hands to himself. My 4 year old is a good tattletale who booms like Don Cherry with play by play commentary when those pudgy hands make creeping motions towards the baby (her nose in particular he likes to poke).

Our usual car trips are under 10 minutes around town so all has been good. However, recently we had to make a trip to the allergist in Toronto from our suburban town. Without traffic on the congested string of 400 series highways this trip takes about an hour. We took my car, like usual, for the journey and I set off (on time!) with high hopes.

Twenty minutes into the journey all hell broke loose as those pudgy fingers just couldn't help but flick a sleeping baby in the eye and the infant cat cry began and she never, ever stopped.

You know that cry? The "you've abandoned me on an empty stomach and you're never coming back" cry? Or maybe it was just the "you've left me back here with these hooligans!" cry.

I could feel my heart pumping from the anxiety while massive tractor trailers whizzed by at 140km/hr, combined with loud screeching baby, big kids yelling, mama crying and well, Billy Joel was there too. I do not want to relive those 40 minutes.

Guess what song calmed me? Goodnight Saigon. You know the war song with the helicopter in the background? With the big chorus of "And we would alllll go dooooown together"?

I'm making light of the true meaning of the song but I tell you, having 3 kids under 4 sure can be my own private war on many days and sure can feel like we ARE all going down together. Many times in one day. Listening to that song gives me a bit of perspective. Also, I can sing it really loudly and no one thinks mama is losing it.

Who knew Goodnight Saigon would become my calming theme song?

Gross mama jobs!

noreply@blogger.com (Ann-Marie) — Thu, 13 May 2010 23:45:00 +0000

For those that have been following the blog for awhile, you remember when my daughter swallowed a nickel and I had to sift thru her poo (for days!) to find that coin. That was hands down the grossest mama moment I've had so far.

This afternoon though I may have found a close second.

This one is far more common and I know many moms out there will relate with the dreaded cradle cap!

Sweet Meggie has a lovely case of it and it's my first time dealing with the crusty dry skin on the top of a baby's head. We've been oiling her up with olive oil regularly to no avail so I turned to trusted momstown moms for advice on how to get rid of it.

Advised to use a comb over the brush (which I had been using) after the oil treatment was the overwhelming response. This afternoon I followed the momstown recommended protocol and had success with getting off lots of scales.

It was GROSS.

I know, it's skin, not poo, but there was something very, very squeamish about combing off layers of skin. Blech. Then wiping the comb on a cloth and doing it again. It felt like a snake shedding. Double blech!

Must say her bean looks much nicer and for the result, I'll keep on doing this yucky job to avoid all the dandruff she leaves on my shoulder.

What's your yucky mama job?
(Share in our comments section!)

mama clears the closet and finds weight loss hopes!

noreply@blogger.com (Christi) — Thu, 13 May 2010 03:20:00 +0000

I did it. I was brave and I gutted the closet of maternity clothes.

10 weeks post partum and those clothes have to leave my closet if I am ever going to stop wearing them. They are comfy and well, sloppy, and it's time to move away from the stretchy tummy pants and over-sized shirts.

Now I'm at the so annoying in-between stage. Still waaaaay too big for my clothes, I'm living in yoga pants and my super fat jeans. This awkward transition is the part I dread as I know it will be awhile until I feel like myself again.

And which clothes in my closet are 'me' anyways? This summer it will be 5 years that I've been home. The mixture of professional clothes lined up with my many, many different sized casual SAHM clothes makes me feel like a style chameleon. I need a visit from 'What not to wear!" to define if I even have a style other than "is that comfortable enough to play on the floor in?"

When the maternity clothes exited my closet, I also took a big swoop of all the work clothes and donated 10 suits - which are way too small and if I ever get back to that size, they will be grossly out of style. It was a bit sad to give away all those clothes but who am I kidding with keeping them?

On an positive exciting note - I joined the YMCA today. There are jeans in that closet calling my name that I do want to wear and befriend soon. Right now those jeans are only hooting at the size of my bum! The Y and exercising with momstown is going to help me beat the scale. And perhaps the motivation to refill the closet with some new treats!

Stay tuned as I'll occasionally blog about the process of my good old fashioned journey to weight loss (there better be a loss!!) and maybe I'll celebrate here as I fit into the next size smaller fat jeans!

There's now a stake in the ground. Good-bye old clothes, good-bye 40 pounds and good-bye sitting on my bum! I have 6 months to make changes and make a real difference in my lifestyle and size.

Bring on the challenge!

WIN a Palm Pre & get organized!

noreply@blogger.com (Ann-Marie) — Thu, 06 May 2010 18:17:00 +0000

Classic example of the overloaded, over scheduled mama happened to me this morning. Super proud, I got the 2 big kids off to school with everything (library books, sunscreen, hats, and yep, they were fed & dressed!) and I was EARLY. Yah for me.

2 month check-up appointments for both myself & Megan all slated for 11am. Figured I had time after school drop-off to come home to feed myself (imagine that?!) and give the baby a top-up before we heading for the 1 hour drive into the city for the appointment.

At 9:45 as I'm carefully putting a sleeping baby back into her carseat, I was dreaming of a Starbucks so double checked the calendar to see if maybe my appointment was at 11:30 and if I had extra time.

Uh Oh. Our appointment was at 10am! Not 11am!

You can imagine the lovely mad rush on the highway to get there ASAP. No Starbucks obviously.

Other than a new brain or less on my to-do list, what would have helped me? Oh, maybe a better system or organizer? Maybe something like the wicked Palm Pre momstown is giving away!?

Oh how I wish I could win this ... but you all do have the chance to win this pocket sized organizational masterpiece. The Palm Pre pulls all online calendars together to easily merge your work, family & social commitments into one view. It's Universal Search feature allows you interact with email, Google, Google Maps, Wikipedia and Twitter. Its features gives you one place to find what you need.

Complete multimedia experience and performance (pictures, videos and music!) and a 3-megapixel camera for you to take a picture of your reason to explain if you are still late (as in "my baby had an explosive poop as I was leaving").

Good lookin' to boot with the 3.1 inch touch screen with vibrant 24 bit colour 320x480 resolution HVGA display. All this tucked into your pocket!

What a great way to keep your scheduled momstown activities all organized!

To enter to WIN a Palm Pre, share with us your best 'I thought I was organized, but I wasn't' story to show "why I need a Palm Pre".

You can enter your story one of three ways:

1. On our Facebook Fan Page under our contest entry post

2. Right here in the momstown moments Blog under this post

3. Or you can email us at contests@momstown.ca and we will share your story anonymously on facebook/Blog

Enter by Monday, May 10th (just a few short days away so share your story now!). Winner will be selected next week. So tell us your story (and make all us moms feel better about our own scheduling mishaps!)!!

mother's day, everyday! sponsored by Maple Leaf Prime

noreply@blogger.com (Christi) — Thu, 06 May 2010 03:41:00 +0000

ahhhh - motherhood, the never ending joys and the never-ending CHORES! The laundry never stops, the kitchen is always open and the dust, well the dust bunnies have families of their own!
Recently, I waved the white surrender flag and hired a cleaning lady to visit bi-weekly. She starts next week and thank goodness because those dust bunny families are starting to believe they rightfully live here!! Now, if only I could afford to send the laundry out, get a cook, a gardener and an errand runner we'd be living on a whole other level!

I dream of having lots of help to take care of all the household stuff so I could actually enjoy my kids more and not worry about all the other things piling up. Wouldn't you love to be free from all the chores of motherhood, at least for a year? And be pampered like it's Mother's Day everyday of the year?

Our friends at Maple Leaf Prime are inspired by the work all us moms do and have invited you to enter thier incredible contest where you could win*

Free Personal Chef Service
Free Housekeeping Free Groceries and Delivery Free Laundry Service** PLUS 500 instant win prizes to be won!
Egad! Could you imagine the sheer bliss??

So, the next time you are at the grocery store, pick up a package of Maple Leaf fresh chicken. Just enter the PINs from specially marked packages of Maple Leaf Prime™ fresh chicken and you could be spending less time taking care of chores, and more time enjoying quality time with your family!

PS: Where can you find a PIN? Look for your unique PIN code printed on the back of the label of specially marked packages of Maple Leaf Prime™ fresh chicken.

Click here to enter the contest! (Don't forget your PIN!)

The contest date is: April 26, 2010 at 12:00:01 AM ET and concludes June 30, 2010 at 11:59:59 PM ET

momstown at Babytime!

noreply@blogger.com (Ann-Marie) — Sun, 02 May 2010 03:21:00 +0000

We're having a blast meeting sooooo many mommies!!

Come to the Babytime Show at the International Centre in Toronto (well, Mississauga technically) and find us over in booth 174!

We have Babytime show specials and we'd love to chat and tell you more about momstown!

Here's Paula (Kitchener-Waterloo) having fun at our booth. Even baby Megan has been chilling out on me all strapped in her wrap (and let me say, I should be making a cut from all the wrap referrals I'm giving due to my sweetie looking so content on me).

See you at the show!!

Our new moment!

noreply@blogger.com (Christi) — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 12:38:00 +0000

We have a proud moment to share as our new home page has officially launched! You can check it out at www.momstown.ca. We have more excited changes to come over the next couple of weeks to go right along with it, so keep your eye open for more exciting momstown moments!

momstown kids aren't couch potatoes!

noreply@blogger.com (Ann-Marie) — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 17:19:00 +0000

Have you heard? Kids between ages 1-5 need at least 2 hours of exercise daily. Reported in the Toronto Star, Healthy Kids Canada says less than half of Canadian wee ones are getting that!

One thing I know, momstown kids are amoung the half that are active! Couch potatoes they are not!

momstown parents are keen on getting up and out of the house - both for kiddo and mama benefits. We're busy planning over 25+ events monthly in each of our 16 regional chapters meant to expand and explore social, cognitive, creative and physical behaviours.

momstown kids are busy running around at parks, playgrounds, indoor playgrounds, farms and conservation areas. We're exploring places on foot, bikes and strollers. We're movin' & grovin' in music classes, yoga days and "B is for Ball playdates!".

Isn't the way to raise a healthy, active kid to walk the talk? Our momstown mamas are also hustling on walks, in running groups, and at trial fitness classes. Monkey see, monkey do - right? An active parent reinforces an active kid.

I'm proud to know momstown is not raising couch potatoes and we're encouraging and enabling active Canadian families!

Learning limits with STOP!

noreply@blogger.com (Ann-Marie) — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 19:01:00 +0000

How to make a 2 year old STOP on his Tonka bike? Make him buy into the idea.

My almost 2.5 year old loves his Tonka 2 wheeler with training wheels but he's a madman and wouldn't stop within his set riding limits. We live a friendly safe court where I wanted him (and me!) to feel confident enough with him to go around the court (6 houses) all within perfect viewing from my driveway and back.

Except, he never stopped at the 6th house to turn around.

Then I would be chasing. Which meant yelling STOP! DANGER! Which meant trouble and we'd have to come inside. Lots of tears. And it happened every time.

How to make him buy in? We made stop signs.

Literally a 5 minute art project. I cut out 2 octagons with construction paper and gave each kid one to colour. We taped wooden spoons to the back (sticks would make more sense if you had them) and VOILA - a stop sign to stick into the ground!

Proud as punch he stuck his signs in the beginning and end of the "track" and now he understands his limits!!

Now, we all enjoy that Tonka bike so much more!

lost in laundry!

noreply@blogger.com (Ann-Marie) — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 03:19:00 +0000

I am lost in a sea of laundry!

I used to like this chore as it seemed easy. Ah ha, that was life BTK (Before Three Kids!).

In this house we have a newborn with explosive diapers, a truck-loving 2 year old with dirty worn out pant knees, and a very artistic 4 year old who thinks her body is the canvas. We create a lot of laundry. Mix in 2 adults who regularly get spit up on and you can see the mountains I'm referring too.

For good measure, throw in a case of the stomach flu last week and let's move the laundry meter to Overload! I know all you mamas can relate - laundry is a vicious cycle!

My mom tells me I need a laundry routine and instead of waiting for 'laundry day' I need to wash a couple of loads of day. This theory sounds reasonable. I look at the baskets every single morning and think about getting them downstairs. I always seem to have a newborn in my arms so I take a mental note to run back upstairs after I get her settled safely somewhere. Well, you probably know the drill - I never seem to get back up!

If I do manage to get a load into the washer, ahhh it's still there at the end of the day - a forgotten wet & now stinky load of laundry that never got into the dryer.

If by magic it did get to the dryer, the folding is the part I actually get done because I can do it on the floor along with the animals in the zoo. But put away in bedrooms????

My new mantra: who needs dresser drawers when we have laundry baskets?!!

If you have a great laundry secret - please share so can all benefit! Because the faster I get this laundry done, well, the more time I have... to clean the bathroom. ugh.

Introducing... our new girls!

noreply@blogger.com (Ann-Marie) — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 01:38:00 +0000

Pssstttt..... here's a secret (sorta)! momstown is changing its look and adding some cool new elements! SOON!

For fun, we thought we'd introduce you to some of your new momstown icon friends. Have a look and then give us your guesses about what they represent. FILL our comment section up and chat it up! We know what these pics mean to us, but would love your comments - serious or silly!!

1.)2.)3.)4.)5.)
Talk & comment (below!) amongst yourselves! ;-)

Product review: Thought Provoking Thought Spots

noreply@blogger.com (Ann-Marie) — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 18:39:00 +0000

I have many days that I could use a cheerleader. It would be nice to have a bouncing reminder to pick myself up, stay focused and give me a pat on the back.

As all moms know, we are our own cheerleader and motivator. We stick up sweet pictures on our fridge or desk to remind us of wonderful moments and those images can bring on a smile or encouragement. But leave it to a mom entrepreneur to develop that idea into a broader motivational package.
Called life tools to motivate, inspire, teach, praise and share Thought Spot sticky and reusable reminders are meant to be literally stuck on mirrored surfaces as positive encouragement. You stick these graphic messages up in your home with the plan to notice them and have them help develop your thoughts. It might sound a little bizarre but the visual reminder does work!

There are thoughts for everyone - adults, parents, big & little kids. I liked the Positive Parenting package with messages like "Practise being patient" and "Remember - this too shall pass" and the all important "Take three deep breaths before reacting". The 'Create a Smile' thought pack has messages meant to help encourage and support others.

We had fun with these at our house (the kids liked the basic "Make some Bubbles. Wash your hands" thought).

The only downside is the lack of stickability to non-mirrored surfaces - as I had a million places I wanted to stick them but not a million mirrors.

Easter antics with the Burtons

noreply@blogger.com (Ann-Marie) — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 18:54:00 +0000

It's Easter Sunday and like many houses we have some bunnies with serious sugar highs hopping around!In effort to introduce our kids to more than just the Easter Bunny we headed off to church this morning. Getting 3 kids (and ourselves) looking somewhat presentable in time to get to the 9:30am service was a challenge.

Even crazier, we headed off UN-caffeinated.

The 2 big kids headed out to the van with Daddy while I searched for pants that actually fit. While outside Daddy scooped this sweet picture above. In those same 5 minutes, Lauren's white tights found mud & grass stains that I guess are unavoidable when you're all decked out in a brand new dress. Andrew (surprisingly) stayed clean.

As we pulled into the church hubby & I high-fived ourselves for arriving 10 minutes early. Whoo Hoo, they said it couldn't be done and we were early!

Guess what? The Easter service was changed to 9am. So classic.

In the chapel Megan fussed so came out of her carseat. Then spit up all over my dry-clean only shirt. Another high-five. Of course I should known better than to wear such an item, I'm not a rookie but I guess I was hoping today might be lucky or something.

I look beside in the pew and my 4 yr old daughter has her Easter crinoline pulled up to her shoulders and has her hand down the back of the grass-stained tights. Apparently she put her undies on backwards (claims it's backwards day) and declares (loudly) that she has a wedgie. Lovely church talk.

Back home, the Easter Bunny had held off the chocolate egg hunt until after church to avoid sugar puke in the chapel. Smart move because once all the eggs were found they ate all their findings in one sitting despite the "just one more" requests.

Maybe we should have removed the good clothes before the chocolate hands...but we were routing around for some coffee at this point.

One thing that was perfect though - the whole morning. Despite any ups & downs and mini crisis's a sense of humour keeps just about anything in check. Almost.

For the biggest chuckle we're gonna try to roast a turkey. Well, tomorrow now. It's still rock hard frozen. Back-up plan of spaghetti for Easter dinner doesn't sound half bad anyways.

From our busy household to yours, Happy Easter!

Bye-bye blue baby clothes...

noreply@blogger.com (Ann-Marie) — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 19:17:00 +0000

Blue onesies, little plaid overalls and wee sleepers with puppies and cars. All going into the bin marked "to go".

With a new little girl in the house, whom is our last (I'm announcing that since I have been asked this already a million times), the baby blue things are on their way out the door to make room for more pink & purple!

momstown holds a big mom-to-mom sale twice a year to share and sell gently used baby clothes, toys, books and baby equipment. I'm usually just a shopper but this year I'm a seller (plug: April 10th at Fern Hill School in Burlington!).

It's the first time I have sorted through clothes knowing that they are leaving, not just 'going away' for another time. It's odd to know these things are leaving the house permanently and it does feel a tad premature.

Andrew (#2) was a huge baby and grew so fast that he was wearing 6 months immediately and by-passed all our newborn clothes. I remember posting on momstown about how sad and bittersweet it was to tuck away wee little clothes. Into the bin went all the mini sleepers, teeny onesies and miniature socks. That time I was overwhelmed with sadness as I wasn't sure if we would have any more children and that whole "what if" question really bothered me.

momstown moms gave me a lot to think about when I wrote about those feelings and many moms spoke about either knowing or not knowing if they were 'done' yet. I avoided having to make a decision and got over my sadness by just tucking everything away and saving it all.

This time is totally different. I've set a couple of sweet favourites away for the memory box and I'm still reminiscing as I go through the items. But most of me is jubilant to be able to make space and clear out many rubbermaid bins labeled "Boy". I'll admit there is a twinge of melancholy as I gently touch each little golf shirt and remember sweet moments but overall it feels good to be moving on in a small way.

Contentment is what I feel now. I think contentment is about appreciating what you have versus focusing on what you want (or think you want). I feel lucky to have had a little baby boy who wore those cute outfits but now I'm perfectly contented to move along to the new stage with him.

Perhaps the melancholy is less because I have another baby already in my arms even as I type this. I'm entrenched in babyland with Megan and it's hard to miss something when you're smack-dab in the middle of it so to speak. But, I think I can declare that in fact I do own the 'done" gene and I'm content with 'only' 3 kids.

Good-bye boy clothes, we'll find you a good home.