Under the High Chair

Ten Years Married

noreply@blogger.com (Aimée) — Tue, 22 May 2012 01:37:00 +0000

Ten years ago Danny and I tied the knot in an apple orchard with about 120 friends and family looking on. We were young, just 23, full of hopes and plans for the future.

The years since have blessed us with far more that we could have ever dreamed -three healthy children, a little urban farm, careers that we enjoy, and most of all, a love for each other that grows stronger by the day.

On Saturday (our actual anniversary) we returned to the very same orchard with our three little ones in tow. We picnicked on the grass, played tag among the trees, and reminisced over our wedding day.

Later that evening, Danny and I slipped away without the kids for a dinner on the town where we sipped champagne, slurped a dozen oysters, and speculated on what the next ten years might possibly hold. Good things, we are sure of that.

Here are a few iPhone photos from the day.

Clara gave us the very best anniversary present ever - she slept through the whole night in her own bed. This was the morning after, when she was all smiles.
We all were.

PSST! In honour of my 10th wedding anniversary, I'm giving away a KitchenAid 7 Qt Bowl Lift Commercial Stand Mixer valued at $900. Head on over to Simple Bites to enter and good luck!

(Giveaway is sponsored by KitchenAid USA and only open to US residents.)

Happy Mother's Day (and BellaBlu giveaway winner)

noreply@blogger.com (Aimée) — Sun, 13 May 2012 13:11:00 +0000

Happy Mother's Day to my readers who are mamas (and I suspect quite a few of you are, considering the subject matter of this space!)

Here's hoping today is special for you all, filled with love, peace, and sunshine. I was blessed with strawberry shortcake, bacon & eggs, and coffee in bed this morning. Apparently, Noah whipped the cream by hand, which I thought was cute - and valiant.

I'm sharing my thoughts on this particularly poignant Mother's Day over at Simple Bites, plus a bunch more cute photos of Baby Clara. I'll see you over there!

Psst! We have a winner for our BellaBlu Birthing & Nursing Gown giveaway...

Congratulations to Staci A. who said:

"I would love this for our next little one. I hated everyone seeing me in the ugly hospital gown, and it seemed like people were constantly coming in my room!"

Happy Mother's Day, Staci! Enjoy the gown and best wishes for the duration of your pregnancy and the birth.

Also, a big congratulations to all the pregnant mothers who entered the giveaway. Is it just me, or is this a record spring for babies?! Here's wishing you all a beautiful birth.

Mother's Day Giveaway: BellaBlu Birthing & Nursing Gown

noreply@blogger.com (Aimée) — Mon, 07 May 2012 02:00:00 +0000

** This giveaway is now close and the winner is announced HERE. A big thank you to all who entered!**

In honour of the upcoming Mother's Day, I'm giving away a beautiful birthing gown from BellaBlu Maternity! Mom, and moms-to-be, read on to find out more.

If there was ever any question about this blogs evolution from food blog to family blog, it should be pretty obvious after this post.

I mean, instead of birthday part treats and pie recipes, I'm sharing a rather intimate photo of myself in early labor. It's safe to say, I've crossed some sort of online privacy threshold.

Oh well. I'm excited about this giveaway - personal photos and all - because I absolutely adore my BellaBlu gown and can't wait to make someone's day by giving one away!

A birthing gown? Really? Yes indeed. I first spotted it on Pinterest (no surprise there) a few months ago and wishfully added it to my board For Baby. I wanted something pretty and comfortable for Clara's birth (hospital gowns? Ick.) and I knew this was the one.

The BellaBlu gown arrived in time (Clara kept threatening to come early, so I wasn't sure if it would make it), and when my water broke at 5am on March 10, it was washed and ready for the big event.

I loved wearing this birthing gown during labor. It was ten times more comfortable than a itchy hospital gown and the soft jersey cotton wrapped me up in a soft, warm hug.

The hospital staff were a little skeptical and wanted me to change into one of their gowns (uh, NO) but they soon saw how practical it was and changed their tune. The smart wrap-a-round design of the gown allows for plenty of easy 'access' for the doctor and nurses.

My doctor even exclaimed how pretty the birthing gown was (yes, she's a girl and notices such things).

My gown washed up nicely after Clara's birth, and I've been able to continue to wear it as a nursing gown. The velcro at the shoulders straps are another one of its practical features, designed for breastfeeding.

Definitely check out a few more photos of the BellaBlu birthing gown, and see the other pretty colors they have to offer. Also, be sure to follow BellaBlu Maternity on Twitter and Like them on Facebook.

Labor and postpartum recovery and among the hardest thing a woman will have to endure in her lifetime; shouldn't she be dressed appropriately and comfortably during them?

Giveaway!

** This giveaway is now close and the winner is announced HERE. A big thank you to all who entered!**

Thanks to the generous folks at BellaBlu Maternity, I have one birthing gown to give away. I'm so happy that one of you is going to get to wear this pretty article for an upcoming birth!

To enter to win, simply leave a comment on this post and tell me why you want to win!

Extra Entries:

For extra entries you can do one or all of the following methods.

1. Copy and paste the following sentence, and Tweet it out:
"I want to win a birthing gown from @BellaBluEdmond and @highchair http://bit.ly/IE5gmL !"
then return here and leave a comment on this post telling me you tweeted.

2. Like BellaBlu Maternity on Facebook then return here and leave a comment on this post telling me you liked their page.

Giveaway will end at 9PM EST on Saturday, May 12. Winners will be announced on Mother's Day, May 13.

Good luck to all!

Disclaimer: BellaBlu Maternity totally sent me this birthing gown to review! I labored in it for about 6 hours, and those are the facts.

The Early Days

noreply@blogger.com (Aimée) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 13:47:00 +0000

Adoration. Elation. Admiration.

Each time Motherhood encircles me and I find myself once again caring for a precious newborn, I am tenderly reminded at how deep my love of babies runs and how much I adore this stage.

It is everything about them. The folds of their soft neck, the downy tufts of hair, every little sigh and squeak they emit while asleep.

It is being surrounded by handmade blankets and tiny knit sweaters as soft as a bunny's belly.

As much as the laundry piles up, there's a thrill in folding perfectly white onsies, matching darling little socks, and hanging a row of frilly dresses in the closet.

It's knowing that nothing else matters outside of the family cocoon, and nothing is worth more than falling asleep with your baby asleep on your chest.

The nourishing and bonding that happens now is far more important that anything that could possibly be going on outside the home - or in the virtual world.

I love every stage of childhood, but I think the most beautiful, most cherished, are the fleeting days and weeks of a newborn. Clara is one month old today, and I fully intend to enjoy every moment I can with her.

You won't find me posting much in this space (I'm even taking a blogging break from Simple Bites) because, as I'm sure you'll understand, I'm making the most of the early days...

** All images courtesy of Angela Chin of Tim Chin Photography**

Blog Lovin', Press Mentions, and a TV Appearance

noreply@blogger.com (Aimée) — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 01:37:00 +0000

This post has been in the wings for nearly a month now, but a certain cute little distraction has kept me from wrapping it up and hitting publish. Finally, here's the recap.

This year is just three months old, yet it's already been an exciting one! I'll try to keep this really short, but I wanted to throw out a few links to the kind folks who have noticed my blogs and given me a little exposure in 2012.

Here they are!

UtHC a Canadian Weblog Awards Winner.

Huge thanks to the good folks behind the 2011 Canadian Weblog Awards. Somehow the jurors saw it fit to award this space with third prize in Best Weblog About Family & Parenting.

I'm so appreciative of the nod and honored to have Under the High Chair in the company of the 1st and 2nd place winners, Home to Heather and Coffee With Julie.

Congratulations to all the CWA winners!

FBC Featured Member

The awesome people over at Food Bloggers of Canada made me their Featured Blogger not long ago, causing me much embarrassment over their glowing recap of my place in the Canadian food bloggers scene.

Thanks, Mardi, Ethan and Melissa!

Best Health Magazine

An interview I had late last fall with Best Health Magazine appeared in their March 2012 print issue on newsstands now. Titled 'How four female bloggers turned their passion into cash', it features Canadian bloggers Schmutzie, Andrea, Heather and myself.

I really appreciated how the article's writer, Camilla Cornell, closely listened to my story and wrote a very accurate recap of my blogging history. If you're curious at all as to how I got started, definitely grab the magazine or read the article online.

Family Cook Off on Food Network Canada

The much anticipated Family Cook Off series finally premiered in early March and we threw a little viewing party, despite the fact that I was hugely pregnant. Friends and family converged on my sofas to watch my mother, sisters and I battle it out in a friendly cooking competition.

Labeled as "wild women who can get a little saucy..." the show definitely played up our rural upbringing and had fun framing me as the Kitchen Nazi. Okay, I admit it, I'm the boss in the kitchen, there's just no way around that once one has had years of experience in a fine-dining kitchen.

So IF you are in Canada, you can watch our episode online right HERE! It's only 22 minutes, so not much of a time suck.

The editing left out a few interesting parts; for example, at 15:29 minutes in, Haidi cut herself badly while trying to peel the (horrifically rock hard, unripe) peaches provided. She essentially signaled to Miranda to take over, and was out of commission for the rest of the countdown.

Alas, such excitement was not included.

We were super proud of our dishes and had a blast filming! My dad and brother were in the audience (front row) and it was just an unforgettable experience to have together.

Wimbush clan L-R: Haidi, Zoe, John, Josh, Miranda, Aimee

I can't wait to see what the rest of the year holds!

What I Did Last Weekend

noreply@blogger.com (Aimée) — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 18:47:00 +0000

Clara Aimée Zoë
Born Saturday, March 10, 2012
8 lbs, 12 oz.

Welcome, Baby Clara!

Chocolate-Dipped Vanilla Marshmallows for the Birthday Boy

noreply@blogger.com (Aimée) — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 00:01:00 +0000

Versions of chocolate-dipped marshmallows have been popping up all over the place, peaking around Valentine's Day. I don't know why I waited for so long to try my own version, but Mateo's fourth birthday was the perfect excuse to give them a go.

We used square-cut homemade marshmallows from this basic recipe, although you can make the pops with store-bought 'mallows as Amy has done. You could also cut them into shapes, like these beautiful hearts from Brenda.

So the method is simple: melt chocolate ( I used 85% cacao for a bitter contrast to the sweet marshmallow) and dip skewered marshmallows about halfway into the chocolate.

Stand skewers upright in water glasses to dry, or jab them into a cardboard box as I did in the photo above.

Once the chocolate has partially set (it will lose its glossy sheen), but before it is dry, add the sprinkles. This is a fun job for kids! Mateo decorated all his own marshmallow pops.

And that's it! I made these the day before the party and didn't bother to store them in an airtight container. They were fine left at room temperature until the party...and after? Well there wasn't even one remaining, so I can't tell you how long they keep.

Enjoy! For more party-planning tips and Mateo's 'Doodle Cake' check out my recap of the party on Simple Bites.

Family Cook Off on Food Network Canada

noreply@blogger.com (Aimée) — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 01:59:00 +0000

I really should have mentioned this upcoming event earlier, but my head hasn't exactly been in the game lately. Unless the game is B-A-B-Y. We're anticipating her arrival literally any day.

But let's backtrack in the pregnancy a bit, say, all the way to last August, where I was just two months along and exhausted as heck.

My sister, Miranda and I were flown out to Vancouver to meet up with my mother and older sister Haidi at the very posh Hotel Fairmount Vancouver.

We were there to film an episode for an fun new show called Family Cook Off for Food Network Canada.

Just being together was a incredibly special. We laughed, we cried, we goofed, we ATE fabulously around town, and oh yeah, we filmed a reality cooking show. It was a gas.

So this is a head's up to tune in! Family Cook Off airs this Thursday, March 1st at both 4PM and 9PM on Food Network Canada. It is also supposed to be available online a day or two after it airs.

Watch the promo! And yes, that is my huge mouth at a mere 33 seconds in...

Hope you tune in and in the meantime, go like Family Cook Off on Facebook for all the updates.

Craving Chocolate Cream Pie

noreply@blogger.com (Aimée) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:48:00 +0000

Fruit pies hold my heart, there's no question about it. I'll choose apple, pumpkin, or rhubarb over cream pies any day of the week, and when the summer fruit runs out, I pair cranberries and citrus in one of my favorite pies ever.

So it was odd that the desire for a chocolate cream pie struck the other day. Chalk it up to pregnancy cravings or something of the sort.

There was a recipe for milk chocolate pudding that I had bookmarked to try from In My Mother's Kitchen by Canadian cookbook author Trish Magwood. (I had the opportunity to meet Trish last August and have since been enjoying her beautiful, family-centered cookbook.)

I thought surely her pudding would be the perfect base for my pie - and it was. It thickened up perfectly and wasn't too cloying or sweet. I used dark chocolate instead of her suggested milk, and whisked in a few teaspoons of butter at the end, just to help the pudding thicken better when chilled.

It was perfect, nearly good enough to sway me from a lifelong love of fruit pies. And definitely good enough for you to try, so here's the recipe. Enjoy!

Chocolate Cream Pie

ingredients:

1 cookie crumb crust - graham or chocolate - in a 9-inch pie pan

for the filling:

2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups milk
4 oz (125 g) good-quality chocolate, chopped (milk or dark)
2 tablespoons unsalted butter

for the topping:

1 cup 35% whipping cream
2 tablespoons powdered sugar
chocolate shavings (optional)

Method:

In a 2-quart sauce pot over medium heat, whisk together sugar, cornstarch, cocoa, salt and milk.
Bring to a boil, whisking constantly, then boil for 2 minutes. Mixture will be thick.
Remove from heat and whisk in chocolate until chocolate melts and pudding is smooth. Whisk in butter.
Pour pudding into the 9-inch cookie crumb crust and smooth top with a spatula. Place a square of cling wrap directly on the surface of the pudding and place in the refrigerator. Chill for about 4 hours or overnight.

Whip cream to stiff peaks and add powdered sugar. Spoon evenly over chocolate pie and garnish with shaved chocolate. Serve chilled.

Yields: 1 -9 inch pie, about 8 servings.

Hello 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Aimée) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:14:00 +0000

We're 23 days into the new year and I finally feel like I've found my footing after the holidays.

Our Christmas break was a bit brutal as our household got slammed with sickness that left us housebound for the first week of 2012. Ear aches, flu, strep throat, pink eye - you name it, someone had it. Even the cats were sick, each of them making a trip to the vet for mysterious ailments. Good grief.

We were in survival mode, but fortunately Danny was home to pick up the slack, make pharmacy runs, administer the pills to the cats, and the eye drops to the kids. The man is a keeper.

On top of everything, I turned the corner into my third trimester, and with that milestone came a bundle of classic side effects. I'll spare you those details, save to say they spurred me into action. We have reason to believe this little girl may come earlier than intended (I'm 33 weeks now), so over the last few weeks I've given full rein to my nesting compulsions and preparations for baby are well underway.

There's a handmade cradle by my bed now, looking so inviting that both boys insisted they could still fit in it and would have tried, had I let them. A dresser drawer holds a handful of white infant garments, a few unisex items I saved from the boys. There's now a shelf just for baby in the bathroom, with some of my favorite baby skin care products from Graham Gardens, and teeny newborn diapers.

Despite being housebound and hoarse, Danny and I teamed up in the kitchen to get some meals in the freezer. While the snow fell, we sliced and diced our way to build a little storehouse of lasagna, lamb & lentil stew, chicken soup, coconut chicken curry, chili and more meals for those early weeks with baby.

Just knowing little things like that are in place give me peace of mind. Let this tiny one come early; we can't wait to meet her.

Oh and 2012? I'm ready for you too.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Aimée) — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 18:56:00 +0000

That's probably the most overused blog post title in December, but since this quick update is really just a handful of iPhone photos strung together, it IS all about the visuals of the season.

Above is our buffet, with a few Pinterest-inspired centerpieces that were easy and affordable. How awesome is Pinterest for party planning and inspiration?!

And I love our simple twig tree, bare except for a few felt ornaments courtesy of Ikea.

Tourtiere happened this week, many of them. I even turned some of the pie crust and filling into hand pies for party appetizers. They also work pretty great for Noah's school lunches.

I got my Christmas present early. Ahh. A fantastic new Le Creuset flagship store opened at my local shopping mall. It's the first of its kind in Quebec and I was fortunate enough to be invited to the press opening.

Thanks to a gift certificate, I choose a new kettle - the 1.7L Whistling Tea Kettle in Cherry red, to leave with me. It already looks right at home in my kitchen. Then again, most anything from that store would...

Homemade mincemeat also was chopped, simmered, and jarred this week. Tarts soon followed and it finally feels like Christmas.

This year my annual cookie swap may have topped all proceeding events, with sponsors, press, a successful fundraiser, and, of course, stacks of beautiful homemade cookies. Here's the recap on Simple Bites, and if you're in the Montreal area, watch CTV news at 6 on Sunday, December 11 for the story.

The first snow came and went, and hasn't been seen since. If feels a little odd as we're December already, but getting into the winter coat and boots isn't so easy with a six-month-pregnant belly, so I'm not wishing for snow just yet.

One of the most fun holiday treats this year has to be these Peppermint Marshmallow Kisses. We've been popping them into hot cocoa and our mouths! Come to think of it, there isn't a single one left.

To make them for yourself, take my basic marshmallow recipe and replace the vanilla with 1 teaspoon peppermint extract. Add a few drops of red food coloring but do not mix it in. Fill a pipping bag with a #12 tip (or your favorite) and pipe kisses onto a greased parchment paper. Sprinkle with crushed candy cane and allow to set for at least 6 hours. Dust with powdered sugar and store in an airtight container for up to two weeks.

It just wouldn't be Christmas without gingerbread. We devoted a recent PED day of Noah's to making, rolling and baking nearly 10 dozen cookies. It was epic fun and they did a great job.

Noah (now 6) and Mateo (4 in Feb) are both such pros in the kitchen now. I actually really relied on them for cutting and rolling the dough while I took care of baking and cooling the cookies.

The next day we worked on frosting, that sweet, sticky task. My basic recipe for both dough and royal icing can be found here. Shaina's also just posed a fun tutorial on the many variations of the gingerbread cookie.

Snow falling on trees; these won't last long.

Stockings have been hung, and my current obsession with cardinals leaked onto our personalized felt Christmas stockings. Notice the pink one for Baby Girl?

Lastly, Pumpkin Challah has been made and frozen for toasting on Christmas morning or perhaps lending itself to French Toast.

What is Christmas looking like in your home?

Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies (Recipe to Riches)

noreply@blogger.com (Aimée) — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 02:02:00 +0000

Getting the winning recipe from Recipe to Riches in my inbox on Monday mornings is always a fun little secret between me and a few other food bloggers. (Last time it was the Chicken & Bacon Skewers, remember?)

The show doesn't air until Wednesday, so as tempted as I am to tweet of photo of the baking process or the finished product, I have to sit on it for a few days.

It wasn't easy to keep quiet over this weeks winning recipe: Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies. Created by Recipe to Riches contestant Sonya Walos, they took me out of my baking comfort zone with their preparation, but brought me right back as soon as I tasted them.

First up, a confession: these are my first ever gluten-free cookies, both to make or eat. They certainly won't be my last, and not just because I've got scads of potato starch and tapioca flour (say what?) kicking around now, but because they are genuinely delicious!

Sonya's Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies won me over with their contrasting crunchy and soft textures, rich butterscotch flavor, and milk chocolate chips. The addition of coconut also gave them a lovely chewy texture. The best part? My kids loved them, so SCORE.

Want to make Sonya's cookies yourself? You can head over to the FN website to get the recipe (it should be posted soon!). Sure they required lots of unique ingredients, especially to one unfamiliar with GF baking, but it's always fun to expand one's horizons.

If you're not a baker but still want to taste these gluten-free chocolate chip cookies, the product should also be on shelves this weekend at Loblaws across Canada, so you can pick up a box and see what a winning cookie tastes like.

The popular Food Network Canada show is over halfway finished, with the grand finale coming up soon, where Canada will vote and the winner will receive a whopping $250,000.

I think these Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies could have had a shot at the big prize, unfortunately Sonya has been disqualified from the competition. Get the full scoop on the Recipe to Riches Facebook page.

Missed the episode? It will be available online soon on the R to R video page.

Disclosure: Recipe to Riches is giving their official bloggers a $100 Loblaws gift cards to offset the time and money spent making the winning recipe and writing a blog post. The opinions expressed here are my own, of course!

More Business of Being Born (Giveaway!)

noreply@blogger.com (Aimée) — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 13:03:00 +0000

**This giveaway has ended. Thank you to all who entered -nearly 100 of you!- and I really hope you all get to see the film at some point.
Congratulations to the winner, Amber! Woot! Amber please contact me with your mailing address and we'll get your prize shipped out.**

I'm six months into my third pregnancy and at this point, 'baby talk' is an equally passionate subject as food. My girlfriends can attest to the fact that I could talk birth and babies for hours at a time.

The third time around is every bit as exciting for me as the first pregnancy and although I have less (far less) time for reading and research, it is still a priority.

Imagine my delight when a PR rep for Ricki Lake contacted me recently and asked if I would be interested in reviewing her latest documentary series, More Business of Being Born.

Like millions of other women, I had watched The Business of Being Born, Ricki's breakout documentary on the birthing crisis in America, and really enjoyed it. In fact, Danny and I had just recently watched it together and I gleaned even more from the film the second time around.

The timing couldn't have been better for me to be introduced to the film's follow-up series. It was as if all the research I was wishing I had time to do was already done for me and condensed into a tidy 4-DVD package. All I had to do was pop the corn and put my feet up.

I watched all four DVD's last weekend. I cried. I laughed. I took notes. I formulated questions for my doctor. I booked an appointment to interview a doula.

This film touched on so many topics that I needed to learn about. For the first time, the term VBAC is in my vocabulary, as Mateo (my second) was a breech baby and delivered by scheduled C-section. I am an advocate of natural birth (Noah was an all-natural, drug-free delivery) and sincerely hope to avoid surgery this time around. MBOBB answered a lot of my questions regarding VBAC's.

I'm incredibly thankful for this new, eye opening documentary on modern birth made by women for women.

Mateo and I, 2008.

Today 'More Business of Being Born' premieres in L.A. and around North America (find a screening) and I'm here to tell you that it is a MUST SEE for expecting parents or future parents.

I'm giving away More Business of Being Born: The Complete Box Set at the bottom of the post, but first, read a little about what each film contains!

DVD #1: Down on The Farm: Conversations with Legendary Midwife Ina May Gaskin

Follow Executive Producer Ricki Lake and Director Abby Epstein to The Farm Community in Summertown, Tennessee, where pioneer midwife Ina May Gaskin talks candidly about the latest birth trends and the art of midwifery. Gaskin, who was featured in the original The Business of Being Born, sparked Lake’s initial interest in natural birth and has continued to inspire the filmmaking duo’s advocacy efforts.

DVD #2 - Special Deliveries: Celebrity Mothers Talk Straight on Birth

Featuring celebrity moms Laila Ali, Gisele Bundchen, Cindy Crawford, Alyson Hannigan, Melissa Joan Hart, Kellie Martin, Alanis Morissette, Christy Turlington-Burns and Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Special Deliveries is a collection of intimate birth stories from a diverse group of mothers. Whether they chose to deliver at a hospital, home or birthing center, these heartfelt and humorous testimonies speak to the lasting power of the birth experience.

True inspiration for any mother-to-be, this group of women trusted their bodies and intuitions, taking responsibility for their birth decisions even when things didn’t go according to plan. None of these courageous women has ever spoken on the record in such compelling detail, and, on this DVD, the filmmakers weave together their passionate narratives as a celebration of the journey to motherhood that will leave viewers with a renewed sense of amazement about the power of women.  

DVD # 3 - Explore Your Options: Doulas, Birth Centers & C-Sections

The most comprehensive and educational DVD in the series, Explore Your Options offers birth-planning guidance around key topics such as the role of doulas (labor support specialists,) the advantages of birth centers and the alarming escalation of cesarean sections in the United States and Brazil.

Epstein and Lake talk to doulas about why their profession is currently booming and uncover why having a good doula can make-or-break the entire birth experience. They look at the ever-growing rates of inductions and c-sections, which have reached 50% in many US hospitals and more than 99% in some private hospitals in Brazil.

How “safe” are these cesarean surgeries, and what are the health implications for the mothers and babies? Explore Your Options examines the pros and cons of birth centers, described as a perfect middle ground between home and hospital.

DVD #4 - The VBAC Dilemma: What Your Options Really Are

The VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean) has become a hot-button issue in the modern maternity care system, as one in three new mothers will give birth via cesarean section. Are all of these mothers then forced to undergo a repeat cesarean the next time around? Epstein and Lake posed that question to dozens of experts, determining the surprising truth about VBACs.

Giveaway!

Thanks to our friends at MBOBB, I have the complete DVD set to giveaway.

Giveaway Prize: 1 copy of More Business of Being Born: The Complete Box Set (4 DVD's) Value: $59.99

To Enter the Giveaway: Leave a comment on this post. That's it.

** This giveaway is now closed. A big thank you to all who entered!**

Giveaway will end in one week, on November 15 at 11:59. Good luck to all!

Roasted Chicken & Bacon Skewers (Recipe to Riches feature)

noreply@blogger.com (Aimée) — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 16:03:00 +0000

Food-themed TV is the only television I tune in for, and even then, it's mostly watched online, commercial free. Last winter I gave 44 minutes of my week to Top Chef Canada and this fall it is Food Network Canada's fun new reality show, Recipe to Riches that's got me hooked.

In full disclosure*, my friend, the always-inspiring, Dana McCauley, is a judge on the show, so I'm not tuning in just to watch the hunky host Jesse Palmer. Honest!

While in Toronto recently for the Blissdom conference, I had dinner with Dana (at Pangaea, no less!) and she regaled us all with behind-the-scenes gossip from Recipe to Riches.

When the show aired three days later, of course I tuned in and a new weekly ritual was born. (Tip: If you want to catch up on Episodes 1 & 2 you can find them online.)

This week on Recipe to Riches, three contestants prepared appetizers and competed for the prize of $25K. New Brunswick native, John Grass swept the challenge with his Grilled Chicken Skewers.

I like to call them Spicy Chicken, Bacon and Havarti Skewers, and mine were roasted, not grilled. Basically, they rocked.

Bacon (I used thick-cut), Havarti cheese and thin slices of chicken are rolled up together, dusted with a sassy Cajun-like spice mix, and baked to a crisp. Talk about addicting.

These chicken skewers were created by a man, but hold plenty of appeal for all, especially this always-hungry pregnant mama. I can totally see them making an appearance over the upcoming holidays.

Noah even gave them the ultimate complement: "Mama, may I have these for my lunch tomorrow?" John Grass, I bet you weren't thinking 'school lunch' when you created these!

Head over to the Food Network's official Recipe to Riches recipe page to get the recipe for John Grass's winning appetizer recipe.

* Even fuller disclosure: Recipe to Riches is giving their official bloggers a $100 Loblaws gift cards to offset the time and money spent making the winning recipe and writing a blog post. The opinions expressed here are my own, of course!

Signs of Fall

noreply@blogger.com (Aimée) — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 15:24:00 +0000

I know that one of these mornings, very soon, I'm going to wake up and look out the window to see my raised garden beds dusted with snow, the tire swing hanging stiffly in the cold, and a quiet in the forest that only winter can bring.

It seems like just yesterday we were licking popsicles and tossing a Frisbee while barefoot in the grass, yet Fall has been sending her signals that summer has gone.

Here are a few of the signs from the past few weeks that clearly show Autumn is indeed here to stay.

This was the first sign. A new uniform, a new grade (1), and my heart broken all over again at loosing him every day.

An entire shelf in the refrigerator became devoted to homemade pickles. Pickles with garlic, with lemon, and a particularly successful batch of Bread & Butter.

Thanksgiving came and went, with its seasonal pies, turkey dinner and family-centered focus.

Fall produce and foliage made it's way to the sideboard in the dining room, replacing the summer flowers and bowl of tomatoes.

Apple picking - in shorts, no less. That may have been the last really warm day we had.

And after apple picking, then apple pie, this one made of entirely all-natural ingredients, conforming to our October Unprocessed eating exercise.

Pumpkins, all of them.

And finally, the beautiful changing color of the leaves in our back yard, and the crunchy carpet on the forest floor.

I'm ready to welcome winter, and hopefully usher in a quieter season for our household. It's been a busy summer.

Perhaps I'm looking forward to winter because I know it will bring me closer to meeting our little girl, due in March. Seems like the perfect motivation to help get through the colder days of the year.

Third Time's a Charm

noreply@blogger.com (Aimée) — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 11:44:00 +0000

Yesterday brought about the sweet, sweet discovery that I'm carrying a baby girl. She'll be joining big brothers, Noah and Mateo, in our growing brood and will probably rule the roost someday if she's half as charming as most little girls I know. I hope she likes cars and Legos, otherwise, we've got some catching up to do around the home as far as little girls are concerned.

When the technician gently shared the news with all of us - yes, my 20 week ultrasound was a family outing - an incredulous "Really?" exploded out of me in a sob that seemed to stem from my long past days as a six-year-old doll-loving girl. Although a healthy baby was our main desire, apparently, deep down, I ardently wanted a little girl. I was weeping on and off for at least an hour afterward.

We never expected a girl. A family of strapping boys was predicted and presumed as there hadn't been a girl fathered by a Bourque in over 4o years. Danny has seven brothers. They just don't do girls. Until now.

So Danny is walking very tall; I'm emotional, yet at peace; the boys are delighted. Noah reached for his sketchbook the minute we got home and documented the family news in the artwork photographed above.

We're feeling incredibly blessed, and are tremendously excited to meet this little flower.

Homesick

noreply@blogger.com (Aimée) — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 00:29:00 +0000

This photo puts both a smile on my face and a weight on my heart at the same time. It's my mother's Thanksgiving table set from last Monday. She told me she spent an hour putting it together.

I love the mismatched chairs, the light coming in, the antique water glasses, and colorful Denby dishes. Most of all I love that she is there in the kitchen, slicing homemade pies (made with fruit from her own plum tree) before the guests arrive.

I'm sad that I wasn't there. I can't remember the last time we celebrated Thanksgiving together. It's easily been ten years. Sure we celebrated the holiday here in Montreal (twice, actually), but there is nothing like being with your own family and knowing you are loved. Despite everything.

I love you, Mom. Don't ever change.

WW: Six Years Old

noreply@blogger.com (Aimée) — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 02:06:00 +0000

Five Years

noreply@blogger.com (Aimée) — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 01:29:00 +0000

The children have been asleep for a few hours, all the house lights are dark save for a lamp by my bed. My body has turned in for the night (this happens a lot earlier since I'm pregnant again), but I couldn't go to sleep without giving this date a nod.

Five years ago, with absolutely no idea what I was getting into, I started this blog. With a batch of (horribly photographed) mini lemon tarts, I began this journey as a food blogger.

Ironically, today Simple Bites subscribers topped 10,000 and monthly pageviews tipped 300,000. I don't often share hard and fast numbers, but both of those milestones - on today of all days - are rather pretty.

This won't be a long trip down memory lane recounting all the places food blogging has brought me and wonderful people I have met, because, well, although they are many, it really would take me all night.

Instead, I'd love to look ahead. What will the next five years hold? Well, we know there's a baby in there, right around March. A third child to toss my cooking under the high chair. Ah well, it was getting a little too clean under there.

There are also things that I'm not at liberty do discuss - don't you just hate that? I do. That small TV thing, which I've signed all sorts of NDA's for and we won't hear about until spring...There's also that somewhat larger print project-thing, which is still in progress and more or less 'hush-hush'... An upcoming, but-not-yet-announced speaking engagement at a pretty legit blogging conference...

Gee, what can we talk about? Bloggers without Borders. Now there's a blogging related project I'm proud about. My fantastic contributors on Simple Bites; love those ladies (and one man, obvi, as I'm married to him).

Well, public knowledge or not, there's plenty of exciting things happening, and they all stem from this little space that I started five years ago. I couldn't be happier.

Thank you to each and every one for reading, for following on Twitter, for joining me over at Simple Bites...FOR YOUR SUPPORT. A blog is nothing without readers, so the full credit, the true acknowledgment, goes out to you.

Merci.

Bloggers without Borders: A Beginning

noreply@blogger.com (Aimée) — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 02:18:00 +0000

UPDATE: I now have a BwoB fundraiser of my own! Head over to Simple Bites for a chance to win some gorgeous items from Le Creuset and help a good cause.

After months of dreaming, weeks of planning, days of coordinating, and hours upon hours of work, the vision of a non-profit organization for bloggers, by bloggers has become a reality for Bloggers without Borders founders, Maggy Keet and Erika Pineda-Ghanny.

You have to see it for yourself; go visit the beautiful new website, read about how the non-profit was started, and find out how you can help.

It is an honour to be working with Maggy and Erika in their endeavors to harness the good will of the blogging community for charity. You'll see the words 'Social Media Manager' next to my photo on the About Us page, which I think means -- I like to talk? Or something.

It also means I'm the voice behind our Twitter and Facebook accounts, so please, go give us some love and spread the word!

Now, our kick-off project is near and dear to my heart. You remember my post on A Pie for Mikey? Well, spearheaded by Shauna and supported by Bloggers without Borders, A Fund for Jennie has been launched.

Please take a moment to read about the project, and then either donate by clicking the button below, or from the options on the BwoB website.

Thank you! Don't forget to subscribe to the BwoB blog feed for regular updates!

A Birthday and My Favorite Things

noreply@blogger.com (Aimée) — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 18:30:00 +0000

It's a cozy, sleepy Saturday afternoon. There's a massive pear crisp bubbling away in the oven and perfuming the house with smells of cinnamon and cardamom.

I've got a few minutes to myself before birthday party prep gets underway and I wanted to point you in the direction of my birthday festivities over on Simple Bites.

What started out as a list of current favorite things, scratched onto a notebook on my bedside table, turned into a full-fledged mega-giveaway.

Yes, in celebration of my birthday, I've listed my absolute favorite things (products, mind you, not like, people or places) and then proceed to give most of them away in what has quickly become my most popular giveaway, ever.

So if you like Le Creuset, stylish knives, fine chocolate, world class spices, natural beauty products or loose-leaf tea, head over to My Favorite Things giveaway on Simple Bites and leave a comment.

That's it!

Giveaway ends Monday at midnight. Good luck to all!

Goodbye July

noreply@blogger.com (Aimée) — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 03:03:00 +0000

It's August, which means were eating corn for dinner 5 nights a week, I'm making birthday plans, and Christmas merchandise has showed up at Costco.

July sped by in a blur of pool parties, potlucks, weddings, and long afternoons spent keeping cool. I dedicated a series to frozen treats over on Simple Bites and, for the most part we survived the heat wave.

We started the month with a perfect three-day camping trip, followed by a most memorable U2 concert under warm Montreal skies. Best. Show. Ever.

The month was punctuated by our baby news! It was a thrilling discovery, but one that plunged me into exhaustion so deep I felt --and still do-- that every day was Moving Day. ‘Moving day fatigue’ is the best way I can describe to Danny how my body feels in the morning as I lie pinned to the mattress.

Fortunately, he's been off work for the last 2 weeks and has gallantly risen every morning to prepare breakfast and coffee for us, and keep the kids quiet until I can rouse myself.

I think my strength is slowly returning; hopefully my appetite is not far behind.

So yes we are expecting again, anticipating the new arrival in early March. Danny is hoping for a leap year baby again, which could easily happen. I for one, won't truly relax until the first ultrasound and they tell me there's just one baby.

As twins run in my family, the chances of doubling the number of our children with this pregnancy is definitely a possibility. I'm not sure if I'm ready for that kind of an adventure!

Central Park

At the end of July, I hopped on a plane to Jersey for Big Summer Potluck. I cemented some online friendships, made new ones, laughed myself silly, and spent a day eating New York City. It was the best of times.

In an update on our urban homestead, our backyard project of the month was finally completed and I now have 4 raised garden beds. They terrace down the hill toward the forest, framed by a massive weeping willow. I love them.

I planted a little fall garden -- lettuce, spinach, watercress and arugula-- and little sprouts are already peeking up from the earth. My herb garden is thriving, thanks to bedding plants I was able to find at a local nursery.

Next year I will plant a complete garden; it's reassuring to know that as soon as the snow melts the spring I'll have a garden space ready to plant.

August holds some canning projects, a visit from long-time friends, my birthday, back to school for Noah, and at the end of the month, a trip out to Vancouver to film a little project for TV...

But that story is for a another post.

Goodbye July.

More on Cupcakes in Montreal

noreply@blogger.com (Aimée) — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 17:11:00 +0000

Over the years I've eaten a lot of cupcakes around town, written a few posts about them, and kept my ear to the ground on the general cupcake scene.

People have both loved and hated what I've written, but the opinion is still mine to share, and I continue to do so.

Recently I had the opportunity to write an article for the popular Montreal food blog, Ici et Here. Curated by Jackson Wightman of Made Here, the Fait Ici blog (and many other online venues), Ici et Here is a blog about Montreal and the fascinating way food is woven into the fabric of life in this city.

It was my honour to contribute to the already stellar content of the blog, and I chose cupcakes as my topic. Perhaps to ruffle a few feathers. Perhaps to show that these mini confections still have a solid fan base in this town.

From the post:

"Alright, I know the cupcake is on more ‘out’ lists than Lady Gaga is on ‘in’ lists. Local Chowhounders label them as “pervasive”; food snobs scoff as they pass the (many) shops; heck, in merely mentioning on Twitter that I was writing about cupcakes, I received a snide @reply asking, “Are cupcakes still a thing?”

Granted, they really aren’t. The new sweet trend is macarons or pie, depending on whom you talk to, and the cupcake hype is a thing of the past. However, in or out, it’s my firm belief that they still hold court in the Montreal food scene."...

Head to Ici et Here to read the rest of the post and get my recommendations for the best cupcakes in town.

I had great fun contributing to Ici et Here. A big thanks to Jackson for the opportunity!

Chasseurs d'Epices: A Spicy Adventure Comes to TV

noreply@blogger.com (Aimée) — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 14:04:00 +0000

Local food & travel enthusiasts will not want to miss an exciting and unique new show that makes its debut tonight on ARTV.

Chasseurs d'Epices ('Spice Hunters' for the Anglos) follows renown Montreal spice master, Philippe de Vienne and his charming wife, Ethné, on their world travels in search of the best spices.

Last week I attended a small launch party and private screening of the show. Philippe cooked a feast for us and alongside the gracious hosts themselves, we watched the debut episode of Chasseurs d'Epices. Such fun!

Chasseurs d'Epices is like if your favourite travel show merged with your must-watch cooking show. The true personalities of our hosts shine through, making for a colourful, emotional and interesting ride. This series is going to go far.

Just take a peek:

Don't miss the first episode, airing tonight at 8 on ARTV. I'm only going to give one hint: Philippe and Ethné, wedding crashers extraordinaire.

You can also connect with Chasseurs d'Epices on Facebook.

Wordless Wednesday: Hola! A Mexico Recap

noreply@blogger.com (Aimée) — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 00:50:00 +0000