A.O.K (Okay with Andrea)

a.o.k. moves...

2011-02-21T21:48:00.000-05:00

If you're looking for a.o.k., you won't find me here much anymore.

I've moved to http://www.okwithandrea.com/ where I hope to blog more regularly, and always candidly about the good, the bad, the simple and the complicated...

I hope you'll follow me there...

A.

My very own TEN30

2011-02-04T07:23:00.000-05:00

A couple of years ago a new shopping and residential area filled what was a large field at the intersection of highway TEN and highway THIRTY. Today, the DIX30 (or TEN30) is a trendy place to shop (and live) and is still growing with new commences, restaurants, condos, mansions, etc. building up and around.

There’s really no connection to the shopping experience or restaurants… but with my 30th birthday coming in October 2011, I’m thinking it’s time to undertake my very own TEN30 project.

I made this decision while I was climbing and living on my mountain… (What? you didn’t know Kilimanjaro was my mountain? :-) Well... this is how Layla is always referring to it… so now I do too!).

Anyways, I don’t remember if it was before or after reaching the summit that I thought of it… but basically my idea is this:

Every month from now (January) until my birthday (October), I want to challenge myself to do something that I’ve never done before. It doesn’t need to be big or fancy, I’ve already climbed ONE mountain this year (!) - but it has to be something new, and maybe even something that scares me a little.

January is obviously all taken care of (despite the fact that I was NOT planning this) with climbing Kilimanjaro for the first time. Not to mention that… I’ve never (1) visited Tanzania, (2) climbed higher than 6,288 ft (that’s Mt-Washington, the highest peak in the North-Eastern United States), (3) gone without a shower for 10 days … and as you can imagine, the list of “firsts” could go on.

This month (February) I’m going to visit a high end salon in Montreal and get a new look. I’ve had my hair cut before, so that’s no big deal, but the “first time” experience still fits because I’ll be donating my pony tail to locks of love. My hair was looking particularly good yesterday, so trust me, there is definitely an element of sacrifice to this small gesture. I’ve been joking that I’m going short and blond – which would be a huge change – but we’ll wait and see what they (my very own colorist and stylist!) suggest when I meet them this morning (yes today!)

The next 8 months remain TBD… but I’m hoping to cap off my 30th year with first sky diving experience. Cliché? Maybe a little. Thrilling? Uh… yeah! Scary? Well of course… that’s part of the thrill, right?

If you have any ideas for something new to try – let me know!

Sunscreen and other words of wisdom...

2010-12-20T21:43:00.000-05:00

I heard this song for the first time at the end of a "spin" class last week, while we were stretching. I have to share it... because it speaks to a lot of the things that I've been thinking about lately...

I've posted the lyrics below...

Ladies and Gentlemen of the class of ’99

If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it.

The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering
experience…

I will dispense this advice now.

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth; oh nevermind; you will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they have faded.

But trust me, in 20 years you’ll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can’t grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked…

You’re not as fat as you imagine.

Don’t worry about the future; or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubblegum.

The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind; the kind that blindside you at 4pm on some idle Tuesday.

Do one thing everyday that scares you.

Sing.

Don’t be reckless with other people’s hearts, don’t put up with people who are reckless with yours.

Floss.

Don’t waste your time on jealousy; sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes you’re behind…the race is long, and in the end, it’s only with yourself.

Remember the compliments you receive, forget the insults; if you succeed in doing this, tell me how.

Keep your old love letters, throw away your old bank statements.

Stretch.

Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what you want to do with your life…the most interesting people I know didn’t know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives, some of the most interesting 40 year olds I know still don’t.

Get plenty of calcium.

Be kind to your knees, you’ll miss them when they’re gone.

Maybe you’ll marry, maybe you won’t, maybe you’ll have children,maybe you won’t, maybe you’ll divorce at 40, maybe you’ll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary…what ever you do, don’t congratulate yourself too much or berate yourself either – your choices are half chance, so are everybody else’s.

Enjoy your body, use it every way you can…don’t be afraid of it, or what other people think of it, it’s the greatest instrument you’ll ever own..

Dance…even if you have nowhere to do it but in your own living room.

Read the directions, even if you don’t follow them.

Do NOT read beauty magazines, they will only make you feel ugly.

Get to know your parents, you never know when they’ll be gone for good. Be nice to your siblings; they are the best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.

Understand that friends come and go, but for the precious few you should hold on to, work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle because the older you get, the more you need the people you knew when you were young.

Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard;

live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft.

Travel.

Accept certain inalienable truths, prices will rise, politicians will philander, you too will get old, and when you do you’ll fantasize that when you were young prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders.

Respect your elders. Don’t expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund, maybe you have a wealthy spouse; but you never know when either one might run out.

Don’t mess too much with your hair, or by the time you're 40, it will look 85.

Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it’s worth.

But trust me on the sunscreen…

A little rest to get a little perspective

2010-11-13T18:58:00.000-05:00

It's hardly a secret that this fall has been particularly busy for me. In fact, I'm starting to feel kinda like a broken record...

I remember telling someone that I was the kind of busy where, when other people would tell me how busy they were, all I could think was "Are you kidding me? You have no idea what busy is!". I'm embarrassed and ashamed to admit that I felt this way because I know how awful it sounds... and I also know that I'm not the only person with a lot on her plate... obviously...

I'm not the only mom who has taken on too much...

(It just felt that way sometimes.)

But in the thick of my work projects, fundraising, training, etc. PERSPECTIVE was hard to FEEL. All I could see were the days rolling one into the next, the time that I didn't have, the things that I wanted or needed to get done - that I didn't know where I would possibly fit them in.

It's now been two weeks since the crazyness at work has started to fade a little; and a week since my final fundraising event... and a couple of days "off" later, I'm finally starting to feel a little bit more like myself.

I want to cook again. For the past couple of months cooking has been a chore (forget a recipe... or attempting to try a new one... I think both Brandon and I were happy if we managed to get a decent and healthy meal on the table by 6 p.m. most evenings). The importance of meal planning became more obvious than ever. There were a couple of weeks where we hadn't planned specific meals and supper was often a last minute, thrown together... and altogether a not so fantastic affair (!)

My libido has returned. I know - too much information right? But seriously, I was starting to be concerned that there was something seriously wrong with me. For almost a month I was simply not interested. A couple of weeks ago I came to the realisation that I was just too physically exhausted and stressed. I threw it out there as an excuse with promises that things would get better once life slowed down a little. I didn't realise just how right I was. Fatigue and stress are not good for my sex life. Good to know. Time to make up for it ;-)

I'm enjoying simple things like you wouldn't believe. Taking a couple of hours to go to the hairdresser, eating breakfast with the family, watching the girls run around the yard with Brandon (on a beautiful fall day)... I even took the time to straighten my hair this week.... and it's not all that surprising that I feel much less overwhelmed by the loads of laundry to be done of the course of the weekend...

And I'm really hoping to start writing more regularly again. Despite the business and the extra work, the Fall has been a time of learning for me. Learning about myself, learning about what I'm good (and not good) at... learning to take a step back to gain a little perspective that isn't so wrapped up around my own belly button (sometimes this is the hardest lesson to learn... and re-learn...and re-learn!).

A.

Summit for Wishes (An update)

2010-10-18T22:17:00.000-04:00

It may be quiet on AOK these days, but you should head over to AOK "summit for wishes" and check out my latest posts there...

(1) My search for the perfect boots brought me to these pair of LOWA VIVIONE boots. They're very good quality and are treating my feet well. Click here to read more...

(2) I'm inviting as many people as I can to try and get a decent crowd out for an evening fundraiser "Soirée for Wishes". If you're interested... contact me! :-) Click here to read more...

(3) I continue to be touched and humbled by the display of support from family, friends and colleagues. Some serious donations on Thanksgiving weekend brought my fundraising total close to $13 000 and the kids of some good friends planned their own little fundraiser "breakfast for donations" this past weekend...
Click here to read more...

(4) And most recently (as in yesterday) I headed down to hike Mt-Washington with some of the gang from Make-A-Wish and Summit for Wishes. A big DAY trip for sure... but lots of fun. There's a short video of the crazy wind that kept us from going further and reaching the summit. Click here to read more...

What a great project!

A.

Make sure you tell her...

2010-10-11T21:53:00.000-04:00

As I prepare to undertake the challenge of hiking to the summit of Kilimanjaro in January - which rises 19,340 feet (5985 metres) above sea level - my biggest fear is how my body will acclimatize to the altitude. It's not really something I can prepare for, other than taking some necessary precautions (like climbing slowly, taking the longest route to the summit and having some trusty meds on hand).

With that said, someone told my SIL recently to tell me that if I start to feel sick I need to STOP because otherwise I might DIE. My goodness. Uh... What am I getting myself into? I was happy to be able to respond that the owner of the company that we'll be climbing with is actually joining my group for the treck and that after hearing some recent "climbing" stories, I know that one of the most important things is going to be to swallow my pride and admit if I'm not feeling well so that I can get help if I need it and increase my chances of making it the summit should something go wrong. This is me staying positive and hoping that NOTHING goes wrong... and that I am just naturally made to be in the mountains... at high altitudes.

But, while the chances of me actually dying during this little adventure are very small - they`re still probably a little bit higher than if I stayed home and lived my regular life in January 2011.

It's the kick in the butt that Brandon and I need to finally take the time to do our will. Ugh. What a chore... what crappy conversations... "so if we both die... then who gets the girls?" being at the top of that list of crappy conversations that we need to have.

For some people I'm sure that it's an obvious decision. It isn't for us... which is a large part of the reason our will isn't done (pretend it won't happen and it won't?--- probably about as safe as the rhythm method of birth control --- I should know, I have 2 beautiful results of using that method!)

There are so many things to think about...
- Should they go to extended family? Should they go to friends?
- Do they already have kids? Would an extra 2 be a ridiculous thing to ask?
- Would they be able to love our kids as their own?
- Would they share our faith and our values with our girls - whether they are their own or not?
- Does it matter if it means a big "move" for the girls?
- Will they still see extended family if we don't actually choose a family member?
- ...

...And all of the questions are almost fictional because the chances of Brandon and I BOTH dying before the girls are 18 (and hopefully long after that) are not very high (at least according to our life insurance policy the risks aren't that high!).

So this is what`s on my mind this week (along with fundraising, work projects, meal planning, laundry, home reno lists, and every other "to do" list I've got going up there).

I don't think I'm going to die in January - but I guess I need to plan for the possibility? How morbid is that?!

A.

From busy life to thumb sucking... to guilt.

2010-10-07T22:44:00.000-04:00

I haven't gone this long without posting anything on a.o.k. since I started my personal blog more than a year ago. The fact that it's been more than a month is proof of the fact that I've been very busy these last few weeks. Work is busy. Our home life is busy. Fundraising and training for summit for wishes is busy.

... and now I'm starting to wonder if all the busyness in my own life is starting to take it's tole on my family... and especially on my baby. Nothing like a little "mom guilt" to get me blogging again!!

Meaghan - my lovable, quirky, strong-willed and uber-cute 17 month old - sucks her thumb. She's always been a sucker. It started with my pinky finger - consoling her as a very very new baby. We introduced the soother very quickly to little Meaghs, but it didn't stick long. As soon as she discovered her thumb, she never went back. It has never really bothered me that she sucks her thumb. Though I'll admit that I often wonder how I'm going to "take the thumb away" when it's time. It's not like I can "lose" her thumb?!? And I personally sucked my thumb for a really long time (only very few people can attest to just how long) - so I know that it's not necessarily something I can control (even with icky tasting nail-polish!).

So Meaghan's thumb sucking is normal for her... but...

Lately Brandon and I have been noticing that she seems to be turning to her "thumb" more often... to the point where the skin is starting to chap and peel. It really looks terrible.

I was worrying a little about it and mentioned it casually to a friend at work. Her sister is a dental hygienist and so she hooked us up so that I could ask for advice. The major things that stood out from our conversation were:

(1) She's really still very young to try and make her stop (could lead to a lot of frustration and battles for nothing);
(2) If she's sucking it more recently, it might because she's a bit insecure for some reason... Is there any change, added stress...?

... uh oh...

Added stress? ooof. Sucking her thumb more? yes. More tired and grumpy? uh-huh... Between work, the gym, hikes on the weekend, ETC. - I've been busier and more absent lately. Could it be my fault that she's sucking the skin off her thumb (almost literally)?

Ouch.

Guilt.

So now what?

(1) I'm trying to focus more on her when I am around. Give her more special attention in an attempt to make sure she feels secure (in case that is actually the problem).
(2) I'm making a real effort to leave work on time and do the extra stuff once the girls are in bed (so that they don't notice)
(3) I'm trying to figure out a way to bring them along for the next hike...
(4) I'm going to apply some very light cortisone cream to her thumb tomorrow morning to see if it helps the skin.
(5)... and I'm hoping it's all just a coincidence and that I'm not actually making my baby "insecure" somehow...

sigh...

A.

A weekend of ups and downs...

2010-08-30T21:44:00.001-04:00

This past weekend was lots of fun... but there were some serious emotional highs and lows!

The ladies brunch

Brunch for Wishes - centrepieces (pretty, huh?)

After weeks (mmm... months) of planning I finally held my "ladies only" brunch fundraiser at the Bifthèque restaurant in Boucherville. I was very happy with how things came together and the "feel" of the event - and was incredibly touched by the lovely ladies who came out, offered their support and words of encouragement. You can read more about it by clicking here.

The brunch was all cleaned up by 1:30 p.m. on Saturday... leaving us plenty of time to enjoy the beautiful weather with the girls - and head out to a BBQ in Ville St-Laurent. The BBQ was fun... but as we got ready to leave - we had the "down" moment of our weekend. For about 10 minutes we could not find Layla.

Where's Layla?

Convinced that she was hiding somewhere because she didn't want to leave, I took my time gathering our stuff and saying my good-byes. I went to look for her in the house... she wasn't there. Brandon went looking around front... she wasn't there... I went back in the backyard...

Panic was setting in. Brandon dropped our stuff and went looking. With Meaghan in my arms, I raced back to the front and then again to the back. I could feel my heart beating like it was going to come right out of my chest. All I could think was "This can't be happening to me... I can't be that Mom... I don't want this to be my story...". Soon several of the bbq guests were looking for Layla with us... one guy jumped into his car to start driving around the neighborhood and others ran from backyard to backyard. I yelled "Layla, Layla, sweetie, Layla where are you?" over and over. Meaghan echoed my calls "LAyla, Ayla, Ayla". Finally a few people took off running around the corner - they had spotted her, poor little thing, a few houses down, standing on the sidewalk and crying "Mama"...

Be still my heart. Breathe. She's there. She's okay. Nobody took her away.

I passed Meaghan off to the nearest person and ran to pull Layla into my arms - Tears of relief covering both of our cheeks. Everyone had a good scare. It didn't take long before she was looking for her Dadda too. He took her into his arms, and I accepted the comforting hugs from those nearby.

The next time we go anywhere - I am tying her to me (well maybe not, but you know what I mean).

It's hard not to think of the what if's or to be beat myself up for not worrying sooner - but in the end, I'm just happy that she was only around the corner, and that we found her. The new rule to enforce will be: "you don't have to be beside me all the time, but you have to be able to see me - you can't go further than that. If you can't see me, call for me".

Thankfully our weekend didn't end on that note...

Sunday BBQ

On our way home from church on Sunday I turned to Brandon and said "we should call around and see if anyone is up for a BBQ tonight - it's just too nice of a day to not do something". Some might call me crazy for adding another activity to my already packed weekend, but there was something nice about having a few friends over, cooking and baking in my kitchen (just for fun), and enjoying a relaxing evening with good food.

Setting everything up in the backyard made it feel like a "real bbq"
(whatever that means!)

For a spontaneous BBQ, it was easiest to throw together a couple salads (my famous caesar salad and a pasta salad from my trusty Betty Crocker basics cookbook, pick up some corn (which is in season and totally delicious!), and ask people to bring their own meat.

Meaghan enjoying her corn and saying "cheese" for the camera

No "event", no matter how informal, is complete without dessert. I checked what I had on hand and decided on a peach/strawberry crisp and ice cream sundaes for the kids. The peach crisp was PERFECT - a real hit... and no kid I know says no to ice cream with chocolate or caramel sauce and bananas!

Recipes will come... eventually :-)

After the kids were put to bed and the kitchen was cleaned - I counted my money.

Fundraising for Summit for Wishes has officially passed the $11 000 mark (that's almost 70%). I'm thrilled. obviously.

How many people does it take to change a tire?

2010-08-25T22:48:00.000-04:00

I have a confession to make.

As much as I consider myself to be a "modern woman", capable of doing all of the traditionally man tasks and making it on my own - I'm really a girly girl when it comes down to it.

I don't take out the garbage.

I don't mow the lawn.

I have never changed the oil in my car - or changed a tire.

When I was on my way home from work this evening, my car started wobbling and I pulled over to see what was wrong (the last time this happened, my tie-rod was busted... and I was in real trouble).

I was relieved to see that it was just a flat tire.

I took a moment to consider my options - option 1: attempt to change the tire myself and option 2: attempt to drive home and get B to take care of it for me.

The tire was looking really flat... and I could do this... right?!?

I went with option 1.

Had I been able to actually loosen more than 1 bolt I think I might have managed to jack the car up on my own - but after 20 minutes of grunting and pulling and pushing with all of the strength I could muster, those bolts weren't budging.

Why wasn't anyone stopping.

Tears of frustration were starting to make their appearance.

Finally 2 guys biked by and after considering my poor state, turned around to ask if I could use some help.

Of course the "boy" could loosen the bolts that I couldn't.

But once the bolts were loosened and the car was jacked... the tire wouldn't budge... and I am not exaggerating here - it was seriously stuck.

Finally 2 older men came out of a machine-shop or air-hanger (I was driving along the airport service road) and brought tools (hammer, jack hammer, a giant wrench) to help.

15 minutes later - my flat tire was still attached to my car. One of the men went to find some oil.

(Note: You should always have a spray can of oil in your car!)

About 30 seconds after he started spraying, the tire finally slipped off.

About 5 minutes later I was back in the car, on my way home.

Did I mention that the girls were with me? That I was wearing a pencil skirt with a particularly high slit in the back? That in the end I was standing there with not 2, not 4, but 6 men helping me - the poor girly woman on the side of the road :-P

I feel like such a girl !

A fundraising update...

2010-08-23T22:54:00.000-04:00

Another one down... more than half way!

Dad has too much hair on his face to have it painted... so...

The last few weeks of my life have been busy. Mini-vacations, sickness in the family, my first "hike", my first yard sale, regular life, regular work, a fundraising weekend at IGA... and now... the final preparations for my ladies brunch fundraiser. The number of to do lists floating around in my head is finally starting to decrease and I feel like I'm regaining some sense of normalcy. Sort of. ;-)

Aside from the lessons learned from my most recent fundraising activity - I'm really excited to announce that we have passed (by far) the 1/2 way point of this crazy project. With less than 5 months to go to Kilimanjaro, the total amount raised stands at $ 9600 - pretty exciting if I do say so myself. I'm not done yet - but I feel like I've made it far enough that I'll be able to start sharing the focus between the fundraising and the physical training aspects of this adventure.

Which brings me to my next announcement...

(READ MORE...)

a.o.k. "trial" gourmet (30) Bake sale treats

2010-08-21T19:56:00.000-04:00

(written yesterday afternoon)

I spent this morning baking for the bake sale portion of the fundraiser I'm organizing at the local IGA Grocery story this coming weekend. It's going to be a busy weekend... and if you're in the area, it would be awesome if you stopped by (click here for details).

I have lots of help for the bake sale thanks to the following lovely ladies (and gentleman!): Aimée, Arlene, Sylvia, Calvin & Carolyn, Charlene... and my special helpers this morning, Rachel and Layla. There should be a pretty great assortment of baked goods. Muffins, cookies, brownies, rice krispy squares, rocky road bars... and maybe even some mini-cheesecakes.

I've limited my own baking to some pretty simple stuff but it was a good opportunity to try a new muffin recipe - APPLE MUFFINS - the result being a definite "do again", especially with apple season right around the corner!

So this morning we made: Blueberry muffins , Apple muffins (see recipe below), Rice Krispy Squares (a classic bake sale favorite) and Ghiradelli chocolate brownies (this is a mix... don't turn your nose up because it's fantastic... I made over $80 selling these brownies at a bake sale at my work place and they are a new staple in our home!)

Now it`s time to make some posters and make sure I have everything I need for tomorrow (and then it's girls night out tonight too ... busy day!... busy weekend!)

Apple Muffins (original recipe)

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup white sugar
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup apple juice*
*I didn't have any apple juice on hand so I supplemented 1/2 cup of apple sauce & 1/4 cup water.
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup apples - peeled, cored and finely diced

Directions

1.Heat oven to 400 degrees F (205 degrees C). Grease bottoms only of 12 muffin cups or line with baking cups.
2.In a medium bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt; mix well. In a small bowl, combine apple juice, oil, and egg; blend well. Add dry ingredients all at once; stir just until dry ingredients are moistened (batter will be lumpy.) Stir in chopped apples.
3.Fill cups 2/3 full. Bake for 18 to 22 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 1 minute before removing from pan. Serve warm.

a.o.k. trial gourmet (29) Sweet and Sour Pork

2010-08-18T22:16:00.000-04:00

We've been blessed with particularly nice weather this summer haven't we? Beautiful weekends for everything from camping, garage sales and star gazing to lounging around the back yard and playing with the girls in the pool. We've definitely put our AC to good use these past couple of months... but lately there's a chill in the evening air... and I'm starting to crave slow cooker meals - which can only mean that fall is slowly creeping up on us.

Truth be told, I love the summer months and I'm sad to see them coming to an end, but I also love the Fall (when it's not cold and raining!). I started "officially" dating Brandon on Sept 25th in our senior year of high school. Thanksgiving has got to be a close 2nd to Christmas for my "favorite holidays" - mostly because of the food! Oh and my birthday also happens to be in the Fall as well... :-)

Why am I talking about the Fall? Well.. When I made this a.o.k gourmet meal - which the original recipe refers to as "Cantonese Dinner Recipe" - it made me think of other "comfort/one-pot" meals that are so typical of my fall/winter dinner repertoire.

I found this recipe using Brandon's new ipod touch. What a cool little gadget... and it's not even the iphone! Allrecipes.com has an app to search for recipes... you put in your main ingredient, the type of meal you're looking for and how long you want it to take... and presto... a list of recipes at your fingertips.

I had these pork cubes which I'd gotten on special and didn't know what to do with them. I modified the recipe I found on the ipod (by reading the recipe reviews) and was really happy with the result. Actually - everyone was thrilled with the result and I will be making this "sweet&sour pork" again and again in the months to come.

Curious... Here's the recipe (can you say easy!!!???)

Ingredients:

2 pounds pork, cut into strips or small cubes
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 onion, thinly sliced
4 carrots, cut into about 1 inch pieces
1 pepper, cut into small pieces
~~1 (4.5 ounce) can mushrooms, drained~~
2 1 (8 ounce) cans tomato sauce
6 3 tablespoons brown sugar
3 ~~1 1/2~~ teaspoons distilled white vinegar
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
4 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

Directions:
1.In a large heavy skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Brown pork in oil. Drain off excess fat.
2.Place pork, onion, ~~mushrooms~~, carrot, peppers, tomato sauce, brown sugar, vinegar, salt and Worcestershire sauce in a slow cooker. Cook on High for 4 hours, or on Low for 6 to 8 hours.

Enjoy!

Crazy August... and it's not over yet!

2010-08-16T20:36:00.000-04:00

What a crazy month it`s been - and we're only half way through!

The month started off with a mini-vacation to Tremblant with my in laws. I took the opportunity to take off on my first hike in my "Kilimanjaro" boots.

The hike was brief - as the boots are "intense" and need to be broken in slowly. It was also steep enough to make me question this crazy project. As my breath became more laboured my thoughts wandered. What the heck am I doing? How can I possibly think I can do something like this? ... and of course the occasional thought of how I would respond to a random bear attack seeing as I was hiking alone (you can say it... crazy!)

(read more)

Wordless wednesday: Meagh at the water park

2010-08-04T21:34:00.000-04:00

Brandon's Story (part 2) - Diagnosed

2010-07-31T07:00:00.006-04:00

One of the reasons that I'm participating in "Summit for Wishes" is to honor the memory of what my husband and his family went through when/after he was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) in 1985. Their story has touched me in so many ways - and so I'm sharing it with you...

In "Brandon's story - part 1" I gave a very general introduction to this series. In part 2, I'm telling you more about when he was actually diagnosed.

Like so many children who get sick - Brandon was an active and healthy toddler who became lethargic, tired and cranky almost overnight. Confused by the change in his demeanor, his parents took him to the doctor and were basically told that he was just spoiled. Unfortunately it wasn't that simple...

The day Brandon was diagnosed, he wasn't even at the hospital for himself. His older sister had hurt her ankle. When they knew they were going to the hospital to have it checked, they called ahead to see if they could have blood tests done on him since they would be there anyways (despite the "spoiled" diagnosis, they were still very concerned about the changes in him).

After a small finger prick... the doctors knew that something was terribly wrong. And within an hour, Brandon's parents found themselves sitting at a table with hematologists, oncologists and psychologists; hearing words like "cancer", "your son" and "treatment" in the same sentence. The official ALL diagnosis came a little later that day. His first blood transfusion came that evening.

Can you imagine?

Those first few hours were a mess of questions, paperwork, discussing treatment options... IF they would treat or IF it was too late. Whew. I don't think anyone can understand what it must have been like, how it might have felt to be in their shoes (without having lived something similar)... the shock, the pain, the not knowing. Clinging to any signs of hope... wondering... and trying very hard to stay positive and not think about what this might actually mean. Oooof. I get shivers and a sick feeling in in the pit of my stomach just thinking about it.

Brandon still dressed up for Halloween in 1985...
....a week after entering the hospital (and isolation).

Consider also that we're talking about 25 years ago. What do you respond when the doctor asks if you're willing to try an experimental treatment and/or procedure? When they tell you that your 3 year old son will be the first child in Montreal to have an infusaport*? That they've never actually done this before, but they have high hopes for success?

I'm sure you're torn between screaming at them "don't touch my son with your experiments" and pleading "please... do whatever you think will work".

After a couple of blood transfusions, the doctors decided that Brandon was strong enough to undergo the first blast of chemotherapy. The little guy was a trooper - as him mom would say "he

always had a strong will to live". The treatment brought down his blood count almost immediately. He started to lose some of his hair. Though he was "lucky" to never lose it all (I have a feeling 3 year olds are less concerned about hair loss than most), it was definitely upsetting to his parents who found tufts of dark hair on his pillow every morning.

From that first day in the hospital (and his ALL diagnosis) Brandon spent about 3 weeks in isolation. His mother almost never left his side... sleeping next to him in his crib every night. Wouldn't you if it was your child? If you thought your time with him was threatened? But remember here - Brandon has an older sister. She spent those first weeks being shipped back and forth between her dad, aunt and grandmother. Something like that has to take a toll. On both parent and child. While your focus is on the sick one, you never forget that you have another one (who needs you too) at home.

And the "mom-guilt" sets in.

(to be continued)

______________________________

*The infusiport had been used in other areas before, but not Montreal. (What is an infusaport?)

a.o.k. "trial" groumet (28) Smells yummy over here!

2010-07-29T13:07:00.000-04:00

I can't believe it's taken me so long to get this post up. Well I guess I can. As my doctor put it so well the other day... I'm not "depressed" I'm "sur-chargé" (ie. I've got a little bit too much on my plate these days... gee... no... ya think?).

I have many excuses... but all I can say is I'm very glad this blog of mine isn't paid gig because I would have lost my job by now (so much for 52 weeks straight of new recipes and getting posts up at leat twice a week!)

My dear readers, I feel like you've missed so much these last couple of weeks - cute moments with the girls, our may long weekend camping experience, my 40-day fast (maybe that has somethign to do with a.o.k. gourmet taking a back seat) and more...

Trust me, although I'm up to my eyeballs (or past there by now) in fundraising activites, fitting in summer vacation plans and the regular day to day life of being a working (part-time) mom... I've still got so much that I want to share and I'm still cooking... and I'm planning an a.o.k. "trial" gourmet come back... soon. Like maybe in September - once we get past the crazy month of August that's just around the corner.

Sigh.

At least we start with a mini-vacation in beautiful Tremblant. ...So you know, I'm planning a nice long solitary hike sometime during those 4 days - to officially begin the proces of breaking in my super cool hiking boots (!) and to get away from it all (myself included - I hope)

With that said... let's move on to the food.

I love potatoes and I love garlic, so when I spotted this recipe for Roasted Smashe Greek Potatoes on the back of the 3lb bag of red potatoes a few weeks ago, I knew I wanted to try it. The recipe calls for an entire head of garlic (I re-read it 3 times and then checked it in french to be sure that I wasn't confused) and I absolutly loved the bites of feta which were mixed in at the very end.

The recipe is below - along with the other "components" of our meal (shared with B's parents). A very yummy meal in my opinion and Layla at an ENTIRE pork chop!

Roasted Smashed Greek Potatoes (compliments.ca)

2 lbs red mini potatoes
1 head garlic, peeled (yes. 1 entire head)
4 sprigs fresh oregano
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
1 tbsp fresh lemon juice

In a roasting pan - Toss raw potatoes together with peeled garlic cloves, 1/2 of the oregano, olive oil, salt and pepper.
Roast in a 400 degree oven until tender (approx 40 minutes)
Transfer to serving dish and lightly mash potatoes.
Stir in feta cheese, remaining oregano and lemon juice.
Add salt and pepper to taste, serve warm.

Green Beans with Color (fresh from the garden!)

2-3 cups of fresh green beans

3/4 cup of grape tomatoes

2 small shallots, sliced finely

olive oil

Bring water to boil and add green beans until just tender
Heat olive oil in pan and brown shallots/onion
add grape tomatoes (2-3 minutes)
add green beans (2-3 minutes)
Transfer to serving bowl or serve immediately

Apple/Maple BBQ Chops (and my very first original BBQ sauce recipe)

6 pork chops (at least 1/2 inch thick)

Andrea's "random" bbq sauce
1/4 cup ketcup
2 tbsp brown sugar
2 tbsp apple sauce
1 tbsp maple syrup
1 tbsp worchestershire sauce
salt & pepper to taste

BBQ (!)

The many faces of Layla

2010-07-21T00:25:00.000-04:00

On vacation for a few days...

but lots coming when I get back... recipes... camping experiences... etc. etc. etc.

Busy busy busy....

2010-07-11T00:00:00.000-04:00

Wondering where I've been and why I haven't been cooking lately?

Among other things... I've been very busy planning a range of summer fundraising activities to contribute to "Summit for Wishes". There's still so much to do... promote the events, find sponsors and volunteers... etc. etc. etc. but here's an idea of what's coming (before the end of the summer)... a garage sale, a BBQ at my local IGA (grocery store) and a special "ladies brunch" ...

Check out my "Kili2011" blog for all the details!

GARAGE SALE FUNDRAISER

BBQ FUNDRAISER

"LADIES BRUNCH" FUNDRAISER

Canada Day in BLUE and WHITE

2010-07-05T20:20:00.000-04:00

FACE PAINTING
A "Summit for Wishes" Fundraising Activity

I was a little concerned when we decided to do "face-painting" during the Greenfield Park Canada Day festivities. Not only was it going to be my first real "face-painting" experience (other then what I've done with Layla at home... for no one to observe or critique!), when I picked up the Make-A-Wish t-shirts from the Montreal office... I was thinking... perfect colors... for St-Jean-Baptiste Day!

Oh well... the show must go on. And it could have been much worse... it could have been red and white shirts on St-Jean-Baptiste-Day. :-)

(READ MORE)

Brandon's Story (part 1)

2010-06-29T22:19:00.001-04:00

This is Brandon about 25 years ago. He was just shy of 3 and a half when he was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) on October 23, 1985. On that same day, I was celebrating my 4th birthday... It's just a weird coincidence but it's pretty crazy to think back and realize that around the time I was telling off the neighbour boy for blowing out my birthday candles, my future husband's family was being told that their son was very sick and discussing treatment options to fight the cancer that was attacking his little body.

25 years later it's all too easy to brush aside or trivialize what his family must have been going through because he's okay today. Because they were lucky enough to be blessed with the miracle of remission.

But did you know that when you have a child who is diagnosed with a cancer like ALL, the doctors will never tell you that he or she is cured?

Did you know that when you have a child who fights a disease that threatens their life, when you live through the nightmare of something like cancer, that your life is changed forever?

... that 25 years later you still worry when you're healthy grown up son looks a little pale?

... that you laugh and cry when that same son has not only one but two beautiful healthy babies - because (1) like any parent you're thrilled to be a grandparent and because (2) there were days when you could barely imagine a future like this?

... that you still remember with vivid clarity what it was like to pace the hallways with your dying baby in your arms... what it was like to let the thought of losing him drive you crazy... what it was like to have everyone look at you with pity, but have very few people actually understand the horror of what you were facing?

Cancer is awful no matter how you twist it or look at it. Childhood cancer is just wrong.

Following the story of Layla Grace this past winter opened doors with Brandon's family to talk about what they lived through when he was fighting leukemia. It's not that it was something they kept secret, or that his family shied away from talking about it ... it's just that discussing little Layla's fight against cancer with them brought a lot of old experiences and memories to the fore. The stories they have to tell are heartbreaking and captivating at the same time.

Over the next few weeks I want to share Brandon's story... his family's story. Why? To help shed some light on how much this kind of experience impacts not only the sick child, but the entire family unit. To share with you another part of why I've been inspired to do all of this and raise money so that I can help (at least) one child who is currently suffering from a disease or illness that threatens their life, to live out a big dream or wish... and to feel hope...

To be continued...

Kilimanjaro fundraising - $1999.00 (12.5%)

2010-06-23T19:59:00.001-04:00

I suppose I should just add the extra dollar to make the official total $2000, huh?

This project is really incredible. It's taking up a lot of my time and energy, but I don't think I would have it any other way. In the last couple of weeks I've been totally encouraged (again) by the support that I'm getting from all sorts of different places.

Here are some updates:

The final "total" raised for my second round of pancakes for wishes is $536.00. I currently have just under $400 of that, and have a few final deliveries to make this week to make up the difference. Like last time, I decided to just absorb the costs of the mix and jars so that everything people gave for the mix is going directly towards helping me reach my fundraising goals. THANK YOU to everyone who ordered the mix this time. Some people liked it even better than the first mix, and I didn't think that was possible! A special thank you to Leino for ordering 20 small jars and passing them on to his next 20 clients at Esto Image in St-Lambert.

A few weeks ago I was blessed with a nice big chunk ($250) when one of my husband's co-workers decided that the proceeds from the end of year barbecue for the Centennial High School "Talented and Gifted" (T.A.G.) students would go to charity - and she picked this project! Thank you so much to Brandon for talking about the project at school, to Amber for her idea and desire to support and to all the kids who were attended the barbecue. Every donation helps and this one certainly made a dent in my efforts to reach my objective.

READ MORE

When will I get it together?

2010-06-21T22:01:00.000-04:00

[photo by Lel4nd]

“When you feel that you have reached the end and that you cannot go one step further... What a wonderful opportunity to start all over again, to turn over a new page.”

- Eileen Caddy

I feel like I've been trying forever to figure out the right way to get organized, to manage my time better, and to get rid of the clutter ("stuff", physical, emotional, etc.) in my life. The inner dialogue that goes along with this struggle is funny (or weird or pathetic or...) and goes a little like this...

I really have to just go through the house and get rid of everything that I don't use or wear or need...

If I could just convince myself to wake up 30 minutes earlier every morning, I think I'd have more time to take care of me... work out, pray, enjoy a cup of coffee in silence... uh... that's more than 30 minutes isn't it?

But I don't want to wake up earlier. I. really. like. sleep.

Maybe if I stopped spending time on facebook... yeah... we should just get rid of the Internet... um... maybe not...

I'll get it right this week. I'll write lists, get up earlier, make myself a schedule... that'll do it.

This week, I'm going to make a list of all the things I need to do... and a meal plan for the next few days..

So... how should I organize my list? Should I make 3 lists? 4 lists? Menu... Kilimanjaro fundraising... new recipe for blog... work-related... people to touch base with... craft ideas for Layla... stuff to do around the house...

Oh my goodness.

I don't know what to say when people are impressed with how much I have going on at the same time. On the one hand, I think of other people I know who seem to manage way more... I think (I know) they're more intentional in their time management than I am, otherwise I have no idea how they do it. On the other hand, I think to myself "uh... I'm not managing as well as you think I am... I get overwhelmed too...

I just don't want to say no... and the good feeling I get from the exciting, encouraging moments seems to consistently outweigh the wanting to give up moments when I feel like I'm running around with no sense of reason or direction (the phrase "chicken with my head cut off" comes to mind... though the mental image that comes with that is not quite what I'm trying to describe!).

I'm not trying to be self-deprecating here - just honest. I'm struggling lately - with a million and one to do lists I'm not getting everything that I want to get done, done. It's not to say that I haven't been encouraged, that I haven't seen successes, or that anything is going "bad". I'm just feeling a little overwhelmed.

And what I'm about to say is more for me than for anyone reading... I need to remember this "advice"...

"Life is a marathon, not a race" - take it one day at a time, one step at a time. Do not get overwhelmed by the things you cannot change or control. Do not get overwhelmed by the things you can. You can only do one thing at a time, so do it... and do it the best you can. And try to remember to take a moment every day to step back and count your blessings... and remember what life is all about... to quote a teenage pop star "It's about the climb"!

I feel better already.

a.o.k. "trial" gourmet (27) Pizza, Soup and ACCIDENTS

2010-06-19T11:32:00.001-04:00

I've been slacking when it comes to a.o.k. and even more when it comes to a.o.k gourmet. It isn't so much because I have nothing to write about... my mind is always buzzing and I'm still making food... but my life has been busier than usual lately. As usual, when things get busy, some thing(s) get put on the back burner.

But, hey, I'm here today, right?!? And I'm going to share my lovely Thursday with you...

First there was the pizza dough mishap...

I started out the morning with plans of making pizza dough (I really enjoyed backseat gourmet's recipe which I shared in my last a.o.k. gourmet post... and home-made pizza has been our weekly menu ever since). I wanted to try Simple Bites' recipe this time around.

As the girls played together around my feet... I put the yeast in warm water to rise, measured out (with Layla's help) the flour, salt, water, olive oil and honey... I mixed it all together using the "dough hook". I found the dough seemed firmer and cleaner than the last time... but I transferred it to the greased bowl and covered it with a tea towel to let it rise. When I came to check the dough about 30 minutes later... it hadn't moved... or risen... at all. I spotted the bowl of foamy yeasty water that I'd forgotten to add into the mixer and felt my shoulders slump just a little. Seriously? Andrea? Come on!

I started over for the pizza dough... and stretched out the other dough to bake in the oven anyways... a flat bread maybe? Sigh.

Then there was the soup emulsifier incident...

By now, it was time for Meaghan's morning nap, so I put her down and then came back to the kitchen to make soup with Layla.

We chopped the vegetables (I even took some time to help her do some of the chopping with me). We measured the broth and other ingredients together. Before too long, it was simmering away on the stove and I was cleaning while Layla looked at some books.

When the soup was done, I sat her at the kitchen table with a small snack. After looking at the soup... and wondering if the texture of the full pieces of spinach would bother me and I decided to take out the emulsifier. I didn't want the soup to cook anymore, so I took it off the stove and placed it on a mat in the middle of the table. I plugged in my emulsifier and Layla laughed as I started pulsing the soup.

The laughing didn't last very long.When I lifted the emulsifier to try and grab some of the bigger chunks near the surface, the pressure sent the soup flying... onto Layla.
The rest is kind of a blur. Layla screaming and crying... me grabbing her and running to the bathroom, throwing her in the tub with her clothes on and hosing her down with cold water... trying to calm her and explain the the cold water will help... visions of little children with burns on the faces or necks from similar and worse accidents... praying that the burns would be superficial... that the soup wasn't hot enough to do any major damage.

... and my shoulders slumping just a little more as my lunch plans changed from taking the girls to grandma's to having one of them babysat by grandma while I took the other to the clinic just to make sure everything was okay.

And thank God - everything IS okay. She has a few small spots that look like first degree burns. They'll be tender but they should heal well and quickly. One spot under her chin may be closer to a second degree burn and it looks like it's going to blister a little... but it should heal well and quickly too. (Today... two days later, you can barely tell there was an incident at all).

We learned that little children with burns get bumped to the front of the "sans rendez-vous" (no appointment) line at the clinic. We came out of there in less than an hour with big white bandages that made her look far worse off than she actually was... but kept the air away from her skin and reduced any potential pain. We also learned that emulsifying should be done far away from children... no matter how skilled or in control you think you are.

Sigh.

I also made my first soup... ever... and it's pretty tasty. I'm not going to go through all that and not share the recipe with you. It is very easy to make and highly recommended. The recipe comes from Jamie Oliver's "Food Revolution" - one of my go-to favorite cookbooks.

Lentil and spinach soup

Serves 6-8

2 carrots
2 celery stalks
2 medium onions
2 cloves garlic
1 ¾ quarts of chicken or vegetable broth (7 cups)
olive oil
thumb-size piece of fresh root ginger
½-1 fresh chili
10 grape or cherry tomatoes
2 cups red lentils
7 cups/oz spinach
salt & pepper
natural yogurt (optional)

To make soup:
(the strike through indicates how I actually prepared the recipe… not sure what it would have added to the flavor/texture of the soup, but I skipped a step and extra dishes!)

Peel and roughly slice carrots – slice the celery – Peel and roughly chop the onions – peel and slice garlic – put the broth in a saucepan and heat ~~until boiling –~~ ~~Put a large saucepan on a medium heat and~~ add 2 tablespoons of olive oil – add all you chopped/sliced ingredients and mix together with wooden spoon – Cook for around 10 minutes with the lid askew (until carrots soften but still hold shape and the onion is slightly golden) – Meanwhile, peel and finely slice the ginger – Seed and slice the chili – Remove stalks form grape or cherry tomatoes and slice tomatoes in half – Add the ~~boiling broth to pan with~~ lentils, ginger, chili and tomatoes – Give the soup a good stir and bring to a boil – Reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes with lid on, or until the lentils are cooked – Add the spinach and cook for about 30 seconds more.

To serve the soup:

Season with salt and pepper – You can serve the soup as is or using an immersion blender or liquidizer, pulse until smooth – Divide between your serving bowls – Delicious topped with natural yogurt.

Dear Brandon...

2010-06-07T22:10:00.002-04:00

I've written two "dear Layla" posts and 2 "dear Meaghan" posts... it only seems fitting that I finally take the time to sit down and write a "dear Brandon" post.

To my favorite person in the world...

12 years ago we started to crush, 6 years ago we said "I do", 3 years ago we became parents... and here we are today... home-owners, parents, a teacher and a communications professional, best friends, lovers... and still individuals with our own passions and dreams, ideas and opinions about where we are now and where we're going next...

Though we have our moments and our weaknesses like anyone else, our relationship is strong, built on solid foundations and I can honestly say that I cannot imagine my life without you in it... that I don't want to imagine my life without you in it.

You are my high school sweetheart and the love of my life. My animal-loving, snake-breeding, D&D playing... yet "cool", super-fit, athletic and sexy husband. I still don't understand the range of interests you have... but somehow they all work together to make you the unique and special man that you are. There are so many things that I love about you. Some have been there since the beginning (like your sparkling eyes) and others have developed over time (like your passion for teaching and your desire to have an impact on your students).

You're the sounding board for all of my crazy ideas (and complaints). You're my soft place to fall when life just isn't making sense. You're supportive of my goals and ambitions (I can't believe how much you've jumped on board for my "summit for wishes" project) and I know it's because you want me to be happy. You're also the one who will ask me the hard questions and aren't afraid to "tell me how it is" when I get carried away... (me? carried away? never...)

You are an incredible father "dadda" to our girls. I see it in their eyes when they look at you... when they reach their hands towards you... and when they giggle with glee at the games you play. Tiger cave and the boat game have quickly become some of Layla's favourites. I'm often still amazed at how creative you are - you have a special gift for making up stories and games that delight our little ones. And it is obvious that you enjoy doing it. But more than fun and games... it is always clear that your daughters are important to you. That day after day, you desire to make them... to make us your priority. That is priceless.

You approach your life with an incredible attitude - you truly accept and embrace who you are, where you are... loving your family, your job, your hobbies and interests. Not needing to fit into some mold; and never wishing for "more". It's not that you're settling... it's that you're genuinely happy with where life has brought you. I don't think there are very many people like you.

It isn't just the two of us anymore (and I have a feeling it never really will be again) and we don't have as much time for our couple as we used to. But as date nights are fewer and farther in between and as we struggle to find more time in our days, my hope and prayer is that we will always make time for us. That we will find new ways of expressing our love, that we will grow closer and stronger in the weeks and months and years that lay ahead of us... and that we will never sit and wonder how we ended up with each other in the first place...

You really are my favourite person in the world. I don't just say it to be nice or because it's written in your wedding band. There's no one I'd rather spend time with, there's no one I'd rather talk to, there's definitely no one I'd rather sleep next to... and there's no one I'd rather make and share my memories with.

Happy anniversary my dear. I love you very much.

A.xx

Back to work? Right for me... Right for you...

2010-06-07T12:14:00.001-04:00

Back to Work is a short series dedicated to the good the bad and everything in between for a mom returning to work following a year on maternity leave. Did you miss any of the other parts? Read them here: Part 1: Already Time / Part 2: First Day / Part 3: Balance?

Part 4: Right for Me…Right for You…

If you are a mom, you will eventually have to answer the question “Will I stay home with the kids or go back to work?”

While many women choose to stay home and take care of their kids, statistics show that more than half are deciding to work outside the home and that a significant number of moms are getting creative and finding ways to work at home. More than ever before, your response to the above question does not have to be either/or. You have options, especially if you’re willing to think outside the box.

Read more...