We finally did it. We bit the bullet. We bought a Costco membership.
For years I have been shocked at people who actually pay for the "privilege" of shopping at a retail store. Shocked, and secretly envious of the cool things they bought there. Like giant tubs of cashews, milk for 20 cents cheaper than our No Frills grocery store, lovely treats in gift packages, soft hoodies.
When my brother- and sister-in-law showed us the great big dog bed they bought at Costco for their puppy, for only $22... That was it. The bed that ended our stand not to pay to shop.
A little background - our chocolate lab, Cadbury, has been sleeping on two beds I made for him out of an old sleeping bag and some upholstery fabric (one bed in the kitchen, one in our bedroom). The sleeping bag must have been 20 years old. So it was pretty flat to begin with. And after three years on those, they were thin and lumpy. Poor guy! So we have been looking for a decent dog bed, but not prepared to pay the $80+ for beds we saw at the pet stores. And along comes this steal of a dog bed at Costco.
We hit Costco on Friday and left with a $55 membership and two fabulous new beds for the dog - one 'orthopedic' one that was a whopping $27, and one soft, cushiony one (that has cedar chips in it to keep it fresh!) that set us back $22. Both decent looking. Both big enough for our 85 lb dog. He is thrilled. And we were pretty happy with the price!
On Saturday, we were back at Costco, wandering the aisles, snacking on the promo items and gaping at the giant tubs of tuna, peanut butter and corned beef. We ate some delicious Brie (don't worry - cheese in Canada is made with pasteurized milk!), tortellini, herb crackers and ranch dip, Banana-Nut Cheerios, potstickers, grapefruit slices, fruit juice and cranberry almond cookies. We turned down Cadbury Twist samples, applesauce and more fruit juice. We could have skipped lunch, if only we'd known.
We left with strange and wonderful family-sized purchases. A big bag of Dentabones for Cadbury (best weekend ever, for him). An enormous bag of Italian cheese tortellini and a huge jar of Marinara sauce. A three-pack of my husband's favourite chai concentrate. A bakery box of 12 croissants. Two of the biggest potted chrysanthemums I've seen for the urns on our front porch.
The scale of the store and the products is so outrageous that I'm not sure we really knew how big these things were until we got home. We are a family of just two (for now) - and my husband is living in Calgary until Christmas with only alternate weekend visits. It is a bit overboard to be buying vats of pasta sauce and a dozen croissants. But, we have a big freezer and love to get a deal.
The croissants are now frozen - I can pull out one or two at a time and pop them in the oven for a quick breakfast. The tortellini is dried, so it will keep well - the marinara sauce is delicious (we had it for dinner tonight), and will freeze just fine in two-serving containers.
I'm hoping that this membership will not be a waste of $55 (we've already saved more than that on the dog beds, if you compare to pet store prices) but an incentive to try new things and make the most of our freezer.
I can't shake the feeling, though, that I've gone to the dark side. I am open to advice on making the most of this. We're going to revisit the membership cost after the year is up and decide whether it's worthwhile or not.
How about you? Does your family have a club store membership? Do you think it's worth the price? What have your best purchases been?
Monday, August 30, 2010
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Two winners for Sibu Beauty!
I have two lucky winners for the fab Sibu Beauty prizes. To check out the company and prizes, read my review here.
Winner #1 will receive Sibu's Beauty and Wellness Package. And the winner is:
Winner #2 will receive Sibu's Anti-Aging Package. And the winner is:
Congratulations to the latest winners on my blog! I'll be emailing you both shortly.
A big thank you to Sibu Beauty for providing review products and sponsoring such a generous giveaway!
Just an FYI - I had to draw a second winner for Package #1 because the first one hadn't left a way to contact them. I hate to do that but it is clearly written, in red even, on the giveaway page! A good reminder to read - and follow - the instructions!
Don't forget the other giveaways going on now:
Tropical Traditions Non-toxic, Natural Household Cleaner (love this stuff! I use it every day!)
and
BumbleWee Nursing Wear for your choice of nursing/maternity top (beautiful and practical clothes for mums and mums-to-be!)
Winner #1 will receive Sibu's Beauty and Wellness Package. And the winner is:
Winner #2 will receive Sibu's Anti-Aging Package. And the winner is:
Congratulations to the latest winners on my blog! I'll be emailing you both shortly.
A big thank you to Sibu Beauty for providing review products and sponsoring such a generous giveaway!
Just an FYI - I had to draw a second winner for Package #1 because the first one hadn't left a way to contact them. I hate to do that but it is clearly written, in red even, on the giveaway page! A good reminder to read - and follow - the instructions!
Don't forget the other giveaways going on now:
Tropical Traditions Non-toxic, Natural Household Cleaner (love this stuff! I use it every day!)
and
BumbleWee Nursing Wear for your choice of nursing/maternity top (beautiful and practical clothes for mums and mums-to-be!)
Friday, August 27, 2010
The gender question - place your vote!
Yes, we're finding out. I had always assumed that I wouldn't want to know until the birth, but the older I get, the less I like surprises, I guess! I can't wait to know. I'm already picturing this baby and what he or she will be like. It will be so exciting when we go for that ultrasound and find out for real!
Our big ultrasound is scheduled for the 10th of September, but there are lots of ways to play the gender guessing game ahead of time. One of those ways is the IntelliGender test - which I took this morning! I'm not telling what the answer is from this test (the big reveal on that will be Tuesday), but I can say that it was very definite in its result! And it was fun playing 'chemist', even if it did mean playing with my own pee. Hm. That doesn't quite sound like fun. Believe me, you never have to touch the pee! Then again anyone who has peed on a stick as often as I have in the last few years has lost any qualms about pee. I consider it a kind of preparation for many diaper changes.
I've done some of the other online quizzes and such as well. I'm going to share my results on those with you now - and I've got a poll going at the top left there, I'd love your vote on whether you think it's going to be a baby boy or a baby girl!
BOY results:
UPDATE: IntelliGender test says Boy!
Chinese lunar calendar
Shettles method
Wedding ring on a string
Babyzone's gender predictor
Planningfamily's gender predictor
SexWizard's gender predictor
OBFocus' gender predictor
GIRL results:
Chinese lunar calendar (a different one... see how accurate these are? ;) )
Heart Rate
Babygendertool's gender predictor
Childbirth.org's gender predictor
We have no parental intuition on this one at all, and haven't heard from our parents what they guess it will be, either.
As you can see, the overall score is 8 for boy and 4 for girl. Now, I always pictured myself as the mother of a daughter. But I will not be disappointed if we have a boy - the more I think about it, the more I know I'll be so thrilled with whichever we have. Each presents its own challenges and adventures!
My husband and I have kept our last names, so if we have a boy, he'll take my husband's surname and vice versa for a girl. So, what do you think? Will we have a Baby B or a Baby H?
Our big ultrasound is scheduled for the 10th of September, but there are lots of ways to play the gender guessing game ahead of time. One of those ways is the IntelliGender test - which I took this morning! I'm not telling what the answer is from this test (the big reveal on that will be Tuesday), but I can say that it was very definite in its result! And it was fun playing 'chemist', even if it did mean playing with my own pee. Hm. That doesn't quite sound like fun. Believe me, you never have to touch the pee! Then again anyone who has peed on a stick as often as I have in the last few years has lost any qualms about pee. I consider it a kind of preparation for many diaper changes.
I've done some of the other online quizzes and such as well. I'm going to share my results on those with you now - and I've got a poll going at the top left there, I'd love your vote on whether you think it's going to be a baby boy or a baby girl!
BOY results:
UPDATE: IntelliGender test says Boy!
Chinese lunar calendar
Shettles method
Wedding ring on a string
Babyzone's gender predictor
Planningfamily's gender predictor
SexWizard's gender predictor
OBFocus' gender predictor
GIRL results:
Chinese lunar calendar (a different one... see how accurate these are? ;) )
Heart Rate
Babygendertool's gender predictor
Childbirth.org's gender predictor
We have no parental intuition on this one at all, and haven't heard from our parents what they guess it will be, either.
As you can see, the overall score is 8 for boy and 4 for girl. Now, I always pictured myself as the mother of a daughter. But I will not be disappointed if we have a boy - the more I think about it, the more I know I'll be so thrilled with whichever we have. Each presents its own challenges and adventures!
My husband and I have kept our last names, so if we have a boy, he'll take my husband's surname and vice versa for a girl. So, what do you think? Will we have a Baby B or a Baby H?
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Lemon Loaf. Y-U-M.
This is one of our favourites, and was my husband's choice today over Chocolate Zucchini Loaf and Banana Chocolate Chip Loaf. (I guess I'm the chocolate lover in our family!)
The recipe is originally from the Muffins and More (Company's Coming)
cookbook, which is my absolute go-to cookbook for quickbreads. It's got cheesy sayings on the pages and isn't pretty - especially the best-loved recipes, which are slightly gooey - but the recipes are tried and true, and oh, so good. I strongly recommend this book, even if you only buy it for this recipe and the AMAZING Best Cheese Biscuit recipe that is so, so good with chili. Totally worth it. You can find it in weird places like WalMart and Canadian Tire, or online at Amazon, or the Company's Coming website directly.
I modify it to be eggless (yeah, I'm still on the eggless kick, eight months later). So if you're like me and have egg issues, instead of the 2 eggs, you can use any of these:
In a medium bowl, combine the remaining four ingredients. I like to use a whisk to do this as it does a thorough job and fluffs up the flour, too.
Pour the dry mix into the wet, stir only to moisten (over mixing quickbread batters will cause them to become tough - it activates the gluten in the flour), and pour into a greased loaf pan. The recipe calls for a 9x5" pan, but I use an 8.5x4.5" one, no problems.
Bake at 350F for an hour or until a tester comes out clean. I find with eggless recipes, they are a little more moist and often need a bit more time. So if you've gone the eggless route, don't worry if it takes an extra 8 minutes or so (check every few minutes).
When the loaf is almost done, prepare the glaze. You absolutely must glaze this loaf. Because this is the secret to its magical deliciousness.
When the loaf comes out of the oven, pour the glaze all over it. The edges of the loaf pan should contain the glaze, but you might have to go slow as it soaks in some. Let it cool in the pan. I just leave it in the pan and slice as needed right in there!
This is seriously delicious. No need to top your slice with anything - it is moist and flavourful as is. If you need some extra sweetness, homemade strawberry jam is pretty yummy on there. Cream cheese (fresh, please, not the plasticky Philadelphia stuff) is good, too.
OH, and the glaze is really just a lemon-flavoured simple syrup - I've made lemonade with it (add water to taste); you can use it in mixed drinks to add a wonderful sweet-sour lemony flavour. Or pour over crushed ice for a lemony snow-cone. Or add a couple tablespoons to ice and top with sparkling water for a delicious fresh soda. Bonus!
The recipe is originally from the Muffins and More (Company's Coming)
cookbook, which is my absolute go-to cookbook for quickbreads. It's got cheesy sayings on the pages and isn't pretty - especially the best-loved recipes, which are slightly gooey - but the recipes are tried and true, and oh, so good. I strongly recommend this book, even if you only buy it for this recipe and the AMAZING Best Cheese Biscuit recipe that is so, so good with chili. Totally worth it. You can find it in weird places like WalMart and Canadian Tire, or online at Amazon, or the Company's Coming website directly.I modify it to be eggless (yeah, I'm still on the eggless kick, eight months later). So if you're like me and have egg issues, instead of the 2 eggs, you can use any of these:
- 2 tsp chia seeds in a scant 1/2 cup (just a little less than half a cup) of water. Let it sit a minute or two, and stir with a fork to break up any clumps. The chia seeds form a gel! You can use white chia seeds if you don't want visible specks in your loaf.
- 4 Tbsp ground flax mixed with 6 Tbsp water
- 1/2 cup tofu (puree this with the milk in the recipe before adding)
- 1/2 cup applesauce or mashed banana (this will change the flavour of the loaf, of course, but yum!)
- store bought egg substitute (I found this finally at Bulk Barn, in a box. It's a powder you mix with water.)
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 eggs (or whatever)
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- grated rind of 1 lemon
In a medium bowl, combine the remaining four ingredients. I like to use a whisk to do this as it does a thorough job and fluffs up the flour, too.
Pour the dry mix into the wet, stir only to moisten (over mixing quickbread batters will cause them to become tough - it activates the gluten in the flour), and pour into a greased loaf pan. The recipe calls for a 9x5" pan, but I use an 8.5x4.5" one, no problems.
Bake at 350F for an hour or until a tester comes out clean. I find with eggless recipes, they are a little more moist and often need a bit more time. So if you've gone the eggless route, don't worry if it takes an extra 8 minutes or so (check every few minutes).
When the loaf is almost done, prepare the glaze. You absolutely must glaze this loaf. Because this is the secret to its magical deliciousness.
- the juice from that lemon you grated the peel from
- 1/4 cup sugar
When the loaf comes out of the oven, pour the glaze all over it. The edges of the loaf pan should contain the glaze, but you might have to go slow as it soaks in some. Let it cool in the pan. I just leave it in the pan and slice as needed right in there!
This is seriously delicious. No need to top your slice with anything - it is moist and flavourful as is. If you need some extra sweetness, homemade strawberry jam is pretty yummy on there. Cream cheese (fresh, please, not the plasticky Philadelphia stuff) is good, too.OH, and the glaze is really just a lemon-flavoured simple syrup - I've made lemonade with it (add water to taste); you can use it in mixed drinks to add a wonderful sweet-sour lemony flavour. Or pour over crushed ice for a lemony snow-cone. Or add a couple tablespoons to ice and top with sparkling water for a delicious fresh soda. Bonus!
BumbleWee Nursing Wear - Review and Giveaway!
By now, you should have heard of BumbleWee Nursing Wear - whether by reputation as one of Canada's premiere maternity and nursing wear online boutiques, or maybe because of the awesome contest they are running - they're giving away a nursing top every day until September 15th, and an awesome coupon for every entrant (Read more details here)!
BumbleWee stocks gorgeous and high quality nursing and maternity clothes (many pieces are transitional, which the practical side of me loves!) from brands such as Japanese Weekend, Mamajamas, and 1 in the Oven. Brands that are known for bringing style to maternity and nursing wear - no more giant tents for pregnant ladies! And the nursing wear is functional as well as modest. What I really like about BumbleWee is the way each top or dress describes the nursing feature, whether it be pull aside, pull up or pull down. That way if you have a preference you will know exactly what you are getting into: whatever's most comfortable for you.
Besides tops and dresses, they also stock comfy nursing bras (at truly reasonable prices), pajamas, gifts and nursing accessories like covers and pumping bras. This company is dedicated to making maternity and nursing a time to be stylish, comfortable, practical and as discreet as we want it to be. I love that they have informative and supportive articles about breastfeeding in public, and tips on how to prepare for baby's meals out!
The other thing to love about BumbleWee is the free shipping to the continental US and Canada! I've been doing some online browsing lately, and have noticed that often the shipping charges are higher than the cost of the items I'm considering buying, which drives me nuts and means I generally end up abandoning my online shopping cart. Right in the middle of the virtual aisle! I just click away! But there are a few online retailers catching on to the notion that customers don't want a great deal to be negated by an outrageous shipping fee (and if you US readers think you have it bad, shipping to Canada is usually b-r-u-t-a-l!). Of course, with a Canadian company it's not as bad, but you really can't beat free.
For my review, I was sent the Mamajamas 
Uganda top, in a gorgeous shade of teal. I love the asymmetrical neckline and the ruching makes it forgiving for before and after bellies! The fabric is super, super soft and that makes this top SO comfortable. The nursing function is a pull up style with an underlayer which I find very discreet. I know this will be a wardrobe staple for me throughout the coming fall, winter and spring. And I think my belly looks super cute in it! Which is why you need to see two pictures - a front and a side view! :)I have to mention that the shipping was really fast, too. I placed my order on an afternoon, and the fifth business day later, I received it in the morning. You can't always count on the postal service to get things there, but I would expect that if you placed an order on a Monday afternoon, you'd have it by Friday morning - or early the next week! Compared to some two-week or longer waits that I have had for products ordered online, I found this impressive.
You can also get the latest news from BumbleWee by liking the BumbleWee Facebook page! They announce sales, contests, and new stock there (even asking for fans' input!) so definitely worth a 'like'!
Now, the part you've been waiting for - BumbleWee has generously offered one of my readers a choice of top from the Sweepstakes category!
The giveaway:
A maternity/nursing top of your choosing from BumbleWee's Sweepstakes category!
How to enter: Head over to BumbleWee Nursing Wear and let me know which of their products (from any category) catches your fancy, OR let me know something you have learned from their informative articles! Make sure I've got a way to contact you if you're the winner!
Extra entries (please leave an extra comment for each. If you already do any of these things, leave the comment - you do get the entry for it!):
- Subscribe via email to the BumbleWee Newsletter (the bottom right of their site)
- Tell me something you learned from the BumbleWee blog
- Follow @BumbleWee on Twitter (leave your Twitter name!)
- Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name!)
- Tweet about this giveaway for ONE entry, this is not a daily! You can use this if you like:
Win your choice of gorgeous nursing/maternity tops from @BumbleWee at Emily's Latest @emilyisland http://bit.ly/9z61Hf US/CAN 9/13 #bfing
- Follow my blog (publicly) – 2 entries, leave 2 comments
- Add my blog button to your blog– 2 entries, leave 2 comments (please leave a link to your blog)
- Blog about this giveaway, linking back to this post and to BumbleWee Nursing Wear AND mentioning their awesome contest as well – 3 entries, leave 3 comments (please include a link to your blog post)
Please be sure to include your email address if it’s not public in your blogger profile! Anonymous comments without a way to contact you will be rejected. Canadian or US mailing addresses only, please. Giveaway ends September 13th at 11:59 EST. A winner will be drawn the next day, announced here, in a separate post and emailed!
Prize will be shipped by sponsor. Note for US entrants: BumbleWee Nursing Wear is not responsible for customs, taxes or duties that the US may charge if you decide to participate in this sponsored blog giveaway.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
A book recommendation and manners
Hiya - it's been a while since I've done a personal post. I have actually been racking my brain trying to think of what to write about. It seems like life is pretty quiet these days and I mainly spend my time waiting. Waiting for my husband's next visit home. Waiting for the next ultrasound (on the 10th! We'll find out the gender!!). Waiting for the dog's ear infection to clear up. Nothing too exciting to write about.
But I realized last night, 4 hours into a "20 minute" reading session before bed, that I should share about the book I'm reading. I came to this book a little late; it's been out for a while. A friend of mine recommended it to me years ago when she was reading it for book club, and I picked it up to look at but never did read it. Now my book club is reading it (yeah, I'm sticking with the book club) and I have been gobbling it.
The book is The Poisonwood Bible
, by Barbara Kingsolver. Now here's why I didn't read it years ago. I'm not a particularly religious person, and it seems at first glance to be all about religion. Not that I don't respect other people's religions, it just isn't an interest of mine. Also, I had never read any of Kingsolver's books, and had an assumption, based on nothing substantial, that they were chick lit.
So now that I am reading the book that I made so many judgments on, I am so glad I was 'forced' to read it for my book club! The book IS about religion, but it's not at all proselytizing; it's really about a clash of religions, and how fanatics can go too far and be too closed-minded. And while it is primarily about women, it's by no means light and fluffy chick lit. It is totally captivating.
Just to give my review some cred, I read about 4 books a week, and have gone through thousands in my life so far. There are certain books that stand out for me among those thousands, and this is going to be one of them, I can tell. Give it a chance and you will be hooked!
My other topic for today is a little rant about manners.
We posted an ad on Kijiji because, in the process of emptying the office to become nursery and tidying things up around here (did I mention we got hardwood put in upstairs? Chaos ensued! But it's nice now), we have an office chair to get rid of and one of those floor mats that protects carpet. The chair is a few years old but in perfect condition and has all the adjustments and ergonomic qualities you'd ever want. We're asking $65 for the pair which is a pretty good deal for someone, I think. Anyway, what's making me growl is that we've gotten a few emails about it that are completely lacking in any kind of social decorum. Here's the sum content of the first email I got:
Am I asking too much of the standard Kijiji user? Is this listing somehow a magnet for the uncouth?
Sigh. I was one of the many who read Miss Manners and Ann Landers daily as I grew up. My parents instilled a strong belief in courtesy and respect for others in me. I know I'm not a perfect writer, but I do make an effort to use English with some regard to the rules of spelling, grammar and punctuation.
And I'm feeling like a dying breed here.
But I realized last night, 4 hours into a "20 minute" reading session before bed, that I should share about the book I'm reading. I came to this book a little late; it's been out for a while. A friend of mine recommended it to me years ago when she was reading it for book club, and I picked it up to look at but never did read it. Now my book club is reading it (yeah, I'm sticking with the book club) and I have been gobbling it.
The book is The Poisonwood Bible
, by Barbara Kingsolver. Now here's why I didn't read it years ago. I'm not a particularly religious person, and it seems at first glance to be all about religion. Not that I don't respect other people's religions, it just isn't an interest of mine. Also, I had never read any of Kingsolver's books, and had an assumption, based on nothing substantial, that they were chick lit.So now that I am reading the book that I made so many judgments on, I am so glad I was 'forced' to read it for my book club! The book IS about religion, but it's not at all proselytizing; it's really about a clash of religions, and how fanatics can go too far and be too closed-minded. And while it is primarily about women, it's by no means light and fluffy chick lit. It is totally captivating.
Just to give my review some cred, I read about 4 books a week, and have gone through thousands in my life so far. There are certain books that stand out for me among those thousands, and this is going to be one of them, I can tell. Give it a chance and you will be hooked!
My other topic for today is a little rant about manners.
We posted an ad on Kijiji because, in the process of emptying the office to become nursery and tidying things up around here (did I mention we got hardwood put in upstairs? Chaos ensued! But it's nice now), we have an office chair to get rid of and one of those floor mats that protects carpet. The chair is a few years old but in perfect condition and has all the adjustments and ergonomic qualities you'd ever want. We're asking $65 for the pair which is a pretty good deal for someone, I think. Anyway, what's making me growl is that we've gotten a few emails about it that are completely lacking in any kind of social decorum. Here's the sum content of the first email I got:
35???That's it. How many things are wrong with that? Way. Too. Many. Grr. The next email I received (from a different person) reads:
when can i come see it call me (phone #)Arghhhh! Really. How hard is it to add a greeting, for goodness' sake? Or to sign a missive with your name? To use at least some punctuation, make some effort towards grammar or politeness? I'm just waiting for the number to be long distance, and then I'm really going to lose it. ;)
Am I asking too much of the standard Kijiji user? Is this listing somehow a magnet for the uncouth?
Sigh. I was one of the many who read Miss Manners and Ann Landers daily as I grew up. My parents instilled a strong belief in courtesy and respect for others in me. I know I'm not a perfect writer, but I do make an effort to use English with some regard to the rules of spelling, grammar and punctuation.
And I'm feeling like a dying breed here.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Pitbull Clothing Winner!
Random.org has picked a winner for the $50 gift certificate to Pitbull Athletic Clothing:
Which is...
Congratulations! $50 goes far at this store! I'll be emailing you shortly to confirm.
Didn't win this time? Well, there are two other giveaways on now, why not try your luck in those? And I have a couple more coming up soon as well! Check out the top left sidebar for details :)
Which is...Congratulations! $50 goes far at this store! I'll be emailing you shortly to confirm.
Didn't win this time? Well, there are two other giveaways on now, why not try your luck in those? And I have a couple more coming up soon as well! Check out the top left sidebar for details :)
A little heads up
Sweetbottoms Baby Boutique is having a giveaway when they reach 2000 fans on Facebook (they're really close!). Check out the prizes:
*Winner’s choice of ANY BABY CARRIER we carry (more selection coming soon!)
Um, yes please!
*Winner’s choice of ANY BABY CARRIER we carry (more selection coming soon!)
*$50 gift certificate to our store
*BumGenius 4.0 Pocket Diaper
*Sophie the Giraffe Teether
Um, yes please!
Friday, August 20, 2010
Tropical Traditions Natural Household Cleaner - Review and Giveaway!
***This giveaway is closed***
Winner: Renee
Winner: Renee
There are few things guaranteed to drive me directly up the bend. Dirty counters are very high up on the list! Luckily, my husband feels the same way, so we manage to keep our counters clutter-free and, best of all, clean.
I've tried quite a number of natural cleaners, from the high-end to the no-name store brands and homemade. I have found a lot of them to be lacking - either they don't cut grease or they leave smeary streaks rather than clean surfaces. Sometimes they smell wonderful but don't do a thing; sometimes they smell too strong or even nasty but they work. I am not a huge fan of trade-offs and have been looking for a good quality natural cleaner that I can count on to do a good job (and not make my house smell like a fish and chip stand!).
Finally, I think I have found The One. I received a spray bottle of Tropical Traditions All-Purpose Cleaner to try out, and as you can see, I've already used a ton of it - not because you need a lot to do the job, but because it's become my go-to product for cleaning.It doesn't smell like anything (thank you, thank you - heaven sent for super-smelling pregnant women!) and it does a great job. Our black kitchen counters really show any smears or smudges left by cleaners and this one leaves them perfectly clean.
The cleaner is made entirely of botanical ingredients - no harmful chemicals (you can even use it to wash fruit and veggies), and can be used for everything: carpets, counters, glass, appliances, cars, even for laundry and hand soap (and yes, you can get it in a 1 gallon jug for cost saving and refill convenience!).
Usually I find something I am not crazy about with a product. This time, I honestly can say I am 100% happy with it. The size is generous, the price is comparable to other cleaners - especially when you consider the size of the bottle: 32 oz of Tropical Traditions Cleaner is $7 compared to, for example, 12 oz of Method cleaner for $4 (prices in US dollars for comparison). I love that it's scent-free (although I imagine if you wanted to, you could simply add a couple of drops of your favourite essential oil for fragrance). I don't have to worry about getting harmful chemicals on my skin while cleaning, or near my food, or adding to environmental toxins. And the best part, it seriously does the job.
So there you go. Whole-hearted endorsement from me. I really think if you try it, you will agree.
Tropical Traditions has generously offered one of my readers the chance to try a bottle of the All Purpose Nontoxic Household Cleaner for free!
The giveaway:
A 32 oz. spray bottle of Tropical Traditions All Purpose Cleaner!
How to enter: Head over to Tropical Traditions and let me know one other thing you'd like to try, OR one thing that you learned there. Make sure I've got a way to contact you if you're the winner!
Extra entries (please leave an extra comment for each. If you already do any of these things, leave the comment - you do get the entry for it!):
- Subscribe via email to the Tropical Traditions newsletter
- Follow @troptraditions on Twitter (leave your Twitter name!)
- Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name!)
- Tweet about this giveaway for ONE entry, this is not a daily! You can use this if you like:
Win non-toxic, natural Household Cleaner from @TropTraditions at Emily's Latest @emilyisland http://bit.ly/8ZDooL US/CAN 9/8
- Follow my blog (publicly) – 2 entries, leave 2 comments
- Add my blog button to your blog– 2 entries, leave 2 comments (please leave a link to your blog)
- Blog about this giveaway, linking back to this post and to Tropical Traditions – 2 entries, leave 2 comments and please include a link to your post
Please be sure to include your email address if it’s not public in your blogger profile! Anonymous comments without a way to contact you will be rejected. Canadian or US mailing addresses only, please. Giveaway ends September 8th at 11:59 EST. A winner will be drawn the next day, announced here, in a separate post and emailed!
Prize will be shipped by sponsor. Note for Canadian entrants: Tropical Traditions is not responsible for customs or duties that Canada may charge if you decide to participate in this Tropical Traditions sponsored blog giveaway. (FYI - it's unlikely to have a charge, being well under the $60 that incurs duty charges! There was no extra charge on my bottle, which came to Canada quickly and packaged well!)
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Our little family
I love this picture :)
It was taken a few weeks ago, at just over 13 weeks. I'm telling myself this is not really a pregnancy post!
It was taken a few weeks ago, at just over 13 weeks. I'm telling myself this is not really a pregnancy post!
Bumblewee! You need to know...
If you are looking for maternity or nursing clothing, check out Bumblewee Nursing Wear! Bumblewee is a Canadian company that stocks the big names in maternity and nursing clothing, like Japanese Weekend, Mamajamas and 1 in the Oven. Plus... FREE shipping to Canada AND the US! Seriously. Love it.Right now they're having an amazing contest too - every day until September 15th, they are selecting a winner for a free top. You even get to choose from their big Sweepstakes collection. I love how many of the tops are transitional, so they'll work during and after pregnancy.
When you enter, please let them know I referred you (Emily B. or Emily's Latest)! Thanks, girls!
Head on over here to enter (you can enter each day for that day's draw). Oh, and when you enter, you get a 50% off coupon for anything in their Sweepstakes category!
AND as if that weren't enough Bumblewee goodness, I'll be reviewing a top from them soon. UPDATE: - it will come with a giveaway for my readers!
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Random stuff.
I'm exhausted. All the time. And also hungry all the time. I know I said I wasn't going to be doing "ooh, I'm all pregnant" posts, but - wow, it's hard to concentrate these days.
I've started entering some giveaways again for baby stuff... if you follow me on twitter, I'm probably driving you nuts with the "Win a..." tweets. Honestly, giveaways with daily entry tweets drive me nuts too (and that's why my giveaways are single tweet entry only). Sorry about that. On the other hand, if you follow me on twitter, you probably like to win stuff too, so maybe you'll see a couple new giveaways to enter that way.
Speaking of, I have a giveaway coming up for Tropical Traditions - their household cleaner is the product up for review and for grabs for one lucky winner. I'll tell you more about it when I do the review but for now I'll say I'm 100% happy with it and you will be too if you win. So, wait for it. It's coming this week.
Meanwhile if you haven't entered my two giveaways that are on now, check them out! Top left is the list with links.
Lastly, this is super cute and ends today:
Baby Steps Blog is giving away a MoMoPics hand-stenciled onesie!
Click to Enter.
I've started entering some giveaways again for baby stuff... if you follow me on twitter, I'm probably driving you nuts with the "Win a..." tweets. Honestly, giveaways with daily entry tweets drive me nuts too (and that's why my giveaways are single tweet entry only). Sorry about that. On the other hand, if you follow me on twitter, you probably like to win stuff too, so maybe you'll see a couple new giveaways to enter that way.
Speaking of, I have a giveaway coming up for Tropical Traditions - their household cleaner is the product up for review and for grabs for one lucky winner. I'll tell you more about it when I do the review but for now I'll say I'm 100% happy with it and you will be too if you win. So, wait for it. It's coming this week.
Meanwhile if you haven't entered my two giveaways that are on now, check them out! Top left is the list with links.
Lastly, this is super cute and ends today:
Baby Steps Blog is giving away a MoMoPics hand-stenciled onesie!
Click to Enter.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
The Belly.
It's big and strange to me. My clothes don't fit. I don't recognize my body when I look in the mirror. And I'm only 15 weeks along! Good grief.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Sibu Beauty - Review and Giveaway!
Sibu Beauty is a remarkable company with products focused around the sea buckthorn berry. I hadn't heard of this superfruit before so I was intrigued. The sea buckthorn berry is an orange berry that is rich in Omega (3, 6, and the rare 7) fatty acids, which are beneficial to our health and protect against free-radical damage. It is harvested in Tibet and Sibu makes a point of ensuring fair wages and safe working conditions for the people who harvest the berries.
I've had the opportunity to try a few of Sibu Beauty's products. I've tried the revitalize and renew liquid supplement, which is a juice primarily made from the sea buckthorn berry. It tastes like a yummy fruit juice, kind of exotic, and is a beautiful orange colour. The juice promotes healthy hair, nails and skin, and is a great source of those Omega fatty acids.
The repair and protect sea buckthorn facial cream is
fabulous. I love the smell and the light consistency and the subtle citrusy scent of this cream. I also love the packaging - it comes in a glass bottle with a pump, very high-end in style and looks great on my counter! The Omega 7 in the cream helps boost collagen production.
I also tried the cleanse and detox sea buckthorn facial soap. I liked the smell initially, it is (to my nose) kind of like a mix between orange and jojoba, but now that my high-intensity pregnancy smelling superpower has kicked in I find the scent too strong. But while I was using it, before I became a bloodhound, I liked the way it left my skin feeling soft and clean, and I did not feel that my skin was dried out or screaming for moisturizer. The soap is all natural and lathers up really nicely.
The last item I got to review was the sea buckthorn seed oil. This oil is used
as a topical treatment for skin problems (and I'm, unfortunately, like a poster child for skin conditions). I really was looking forward to testing this one out. It is 100% therapeutic grade organic sea buckthorn seed oil. Very intriguing. BUT... sadly for me, the package insert instructs to consult your health care practitioner if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, and because my doctor has never heard of it, I decided to live on the cautious side and haven't tried it. It's probably fine but with my history, I'm not taking any chances. So this one I can't weigh in on, but would love to hear if anyone has!
My photo doesn't really do the products justice, but here it is (and please excuse my freak show of an orchid):
Sibu Beauty has VERY generously offered not one, but two fantastic packages, so two of my lucky readers will have a chance to try their natural products:
Package #1: Sibu Beauty’s Beauty & Wellness Package (ARV $55.85 US):
How to enter: Head over to Sibu Beauty and let me know what product intrigues you, OR one thing that you learned there. Make sure I've got a way to contact you if you're the winner! Also (and this is mandatory!) - please leave in your first comment WHICH of the two packages you would like to win!
Extra entries (please leave an extra comment for each. If you already do any of these things, leave the comment - you do get the entry for it!):
Please be sure to include your email address if it’s not public in your blogger profile! Anonymous comments without a way to contact you will be rejected. Canadian or US mailing addresses only, please. Giveaway ends August 26th at 11:59 EST. A winner will be drawn the next day, announced here, in a separate post and emailed!
Prize will be shipped by sponsor. Note for Canadian entrants: Sibu Beauty is not responsible for customs or duties that Canada may charge. For what it's worth, I was not charged any additional fees at the border on my order.
I've had the opportunity to try a few of Sibu Beauty's products. I've tried the revitalize and renew liquid supplement, which is a juice primarily made from the sea buckthorn berry. It tastes like a yummy fruit juice, kind of exotic, and is a beautiful orange colour. The juice promotes healthy hair, nails and skin, and is a great source of those Omega fatty acids.The repair and protect sea buckthorn facial cream is
fabulous. I love the smell and the light consistency and the subtle citrusy scent of this cream. I also love the packaging - it comes in a glass bottle with a pump, very high-end in style and looks great on my counter! The Omega 7 in the cream helps boost collagen production.I also tried the cleanse and detox sea buckthorn facial soap. I liked the smell initially, it is (to my nose) kind of like a mix between orange and jojoba, but now that my high-intensity pregnancy smelling superpower has kicked in I find the scent too strong. But while I was using it, before I became a bloodhound, I liked the way it left my skin feeling soft and clean, and I did not feel that my skin was dried out or screaming for moisturizer. The soap is all natural and lathers up really nicely.The last item I got to review was the sea buckthorn seed oil. This oil is used
as a topical treatment for skin problems (and I'm, unfortunately, like a poster child for skin conditions). I really was looking forward to testing this one out. It is 100% therapeutic grade organic sea buckthorn seed oil. Very intriguing. BUT... sadly for me, the package insert instructs to consult your health care practitioner if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, and because my doctor has never heard of it, I decided to live on the cautious side and haven't tried it. It's probably fine but with my history, I'm not taking any chances. So this one I can't weigh in on, but would love to hear if anyone has!My photo doesn't really do the products justice, but here it is (and please excuse my freak show of an orchid):
Sibu Beauty has VERY generously offered not one, but two fantastic packages, so two of my lucky readers will have a chance to try their natural products:Package #1: Sibu Beauty’s Beauty & Wellness Package (ARV $55.85 US):
- Cleanse & Detox Facial Soap,
- Revitalize & Renew Liquid Supplement,
- Repair & Protect Facial Cream.
- Cellular Support Gel Caps (note to my vegetarian friends: these do contain gelatin),
- Age Defying Eye Cream,
- Sea Buckthorn Seed Oil.
How to enter: Head over to Sibu Beauty and let me know what product intrigues you, OR one thing that you learned there. Make sure I've got a way to contact you if you're the winner! Also (and this is mandatory!) - please leave in your first comment WHICH of the two packages you would like to win!
Extra entries (please leave an extra comment for each. If you already do any of these things, leave the comment - you do get the entry for it!):
- Visit the Sibu Beauty Blog and tell me something you learned there.
- Follow Sibu Beauty on Twitter (leave your Twitter name!)
- Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name!)
- Tweet about this giveaway for ONE entry, this is not a daily! You can use this if you like:
Win 1 of 2 @Sibu_Beauty prizes at Emily's Latest. Natural, Organic and Gorgeous! @emilyisland http://bit.ly/dbgvwX US/CAN 8/26
- Like Sibu Beauty on Facebook (leave your first name and last inital for verification)
- Follow my blog (publicly) – 2 entries, leave 2 comments
- Add my blog button to your blog– 2 entries, leave 2 comments (please leave a link to your blog)
Please be sure to include your email address if it’s not public in your blogger profile! Anonymous comments without a way to contact you will be rejected. Canadian or US mailing addresses only, please. Giveaway ends August 26th at 11:59 EST. A winner will be drawn the next day, announced here, in a separate post and emailed!
Prize will be shipped by sponsor. Note for Canadian entrants: Sibu Beauty is not responsible for customs or duties that Canada may charge. For what it's worth, I was not charged any additional fees at the border on my order.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Fear
I've been thinking about this a lot lately. A tragedy in my friends' life has had me reflecting on the nature of parenthood and what a giant precipice we stand on, those of us who undertake to be parents.
After my first pregnancy, I changed. I lost not only my first baby but my innocence. (Just for the record, I'm speaking only for myself here - of course my husband went through all this with me). My naive expectation that "it couldn't happen to me" was shattered.
My second pregnancy came and went so fast that I didn't really have a chance to feel anything but a dull ache where the hope that should have come with a BFP was missing. Pretty much the moment I learned I was pregnant, was the moment I learned that it was ectopic. I knew it couldn't possibly end well, so all I wanted was for it to end quickly (that didn't really happen either, but that's another story).
This time around... I've passed some milestones, important ones for me. I passed the first ultrasound appointment without hearing the worst news. I passed the point where my first baby died and instead had the joy of seeing my first fetal heartbeat on the ultrasound (you bet I cried). I passed the point where I lost that first pregnancy. We survived weeks and weeks of spotting and even some full out bleeding - all is still okay. I've seen baby's heart beating three times now, and heard it on the fetal doppler at my OB's office. I've made it through the scary first trimester, dealt with morning sickness, slept more hours than I thought I could. I've made it to here and now.
And each day I am celebrating the fact that "Today, I am Still Pregnant." It's my mantra for this pregnancy. It is enough to calm me when I feel anxious.
With all that has been going on around us lately, I realize now that this capital-F Fear is not going anywhere. For the rest of my life.
Parenthood has been something I dreamed of, expected, longed for, and am hopefully in the throes of achieving. I honestly can't wait to be a mother. I have big plans for this little one. But with all the happiness, discoveries and pleasures of parenthood comes the price - Fear. I can't imagine there is ever a moment when you don't know as a parent, in the back of your mind, that it could all come crashing down.
Sometimes it's a news story that reminds us how fragile life is. This summer, I keep hearing about drowning deaths of children. Sometimes it's our own losses that come back to haunt us - knowing that anyone, at any time, can be gone, just like that. I've lost family that way; here one moment, and gone the next, no warning. Sometimes it's the slice-your-heart-open kind of unexpected tragedy that hits someone you know and care for, throwing any belief that things happen for a reason out the window.
I admit it - I'm afraid. I'm afraid of bad things happening. I'm not a pessimist, and I don't mean I'm spending my days shaking in a blanket, but I'm definitely no longer the woman I was ten years ago, or even a year and a half ago. Things have changed. I've seen bad things happen. It's not logical, it's not predictable, it's not fair.
I keep my fear in a small box, lid on - and do my best to make each day a happy one. Sometimes, though, life shakes that box a little and some seeps out. I wish I could be just "optimistic" without "cautiously" to qualify it. Rewind, and somehow undo. I guess that's life, though.
Parenthood is going to be scary. I am wholeheartedly signing up, but don't think for a moment that I'm not on to the bad monsters under the bed.
After my first pregnancy, I changed. I lost not only my first baby but my innocence. (Just for the record, I'm speaking only for myself here - of course my husband went through all this with me). My naive expectation that "it couldn't happen to me" was shattered.
My second pregnancy came and went so fast that I didn't really have a chance to feel anything but a dull ache where the hope that should have come with a BFP was missing. Pretty much the moment I learned I was pregnant, was the moment I learned that it was ectopic. I knew it couldn't possibly end well, so all I wanted was for it to end quickly (that didn't really happen either, but that's another story).
This time around... I've passed some milestones, important ones for me. I passed the first ultrasound appointment without hearing the worst news. I passed the point where my first baby died and instead had the joy of seeing my first fetal heartbeat on the ultrasound (you bet I cried). I passed the point where I lost that first pregnancy. We survived weeks and weeks of spotting and even some full out bleeding - all is still okay. I've seen baby's heart beating three times now, and heard it on the fetal doppler at my OB's office. I've made it through the scary first trimester, dealt with morning sickness, slept more hours than I thought I could. I've made it to here and now.
And each day I am celebrating the fact that "Today, I am Still Pregnant." It's my mantra for this pregnancy. It is enough to calm me when I feel anxious.
With all that has been going on around us lately, I realize now that this capital-F Fear is not going anywhere. For the rest of my life.
Parenthood has been something I dreamed of, expected, longed for, and am hopefully in the throes of achieving. I honestly can't wait to be a mother. I have big plans for this little one. But with all the happiness, discoveries and pleasures of parenthood comes the price - Fear. I can't imagine there is ever a moment when you don't know as a parent, in the back of your mind, that it could all come crashing down.
Sometimes it's a news story that reminds us how fragile life is. This summer, I keep hearing about drowning deaths of children. Sometimes it's our own losses that come back to haunt us - knowing that anyone, at any time, can be gone, just like that. I've lost family that way; here one moment, and gone the next, no warning. Sometimes it's the slice-your-heart-open kind of unexpected tragedy that hits someone you know and care for, throwing any belief that things happen for a reason out the window.
I admit it - I'm afraid. I'm afraid of bad things happening. I'm not a pessimist, and I don't mean I'm spending my days shaking in a blanket, but I'm definitely no longer the woman I was ten years ago, or even a year and a half ago. Things have changed. I've seen bad things happen. It's not logical, it's not predictable, it's not fair.
I keep my fear in a small box, lid on - and do my best to make each day a happy one. Sometimes, though, life shakes that box a little and some seeps out. I wish I could be just "optimistic" without "cautiously" to qualify it. Rewind, and somehow undo. I guess that's life, though.
Parenthood is going to be scary. I am wholeheartedly signing up, but don't think for a moment that I'm not on to the bad monsters under the bed.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Un-wired
I'm having an internet-free weekend, so if you don't see your comment moderated for a while, that's why! Will catch up Sunday or Monday.
Have a great weekend, everyone!
Have a great weekend, everyone!
Pitbull Clothing - Review and Giveaway!
***This giveaway is now closed***
Winner: Amanda
And now, back to our regularly scheduled programming!
Winner: Amanda
And now, back to our regularly scheduled programming!
My husband had the opportunity to try out some athletic wear from Pitbull Clothing. After browsing the many options on the site, the items he chose to review were the Crosstrainer Fit Short and the Performance Mesh Cut Sleeve shirt. This isn't the greatest photo - I took it while lying in bed so excuse the weird angle! He gets up earlier than I do! - but you can see how the clothes fit.The shorts are made of some wonderful fabric that is super stretchy, thick enough to maintain a tailored look while conforming to the body in a flattering way. I'm going to be honest - I tried them on myself just to see if I could 'borrow' them! Of course, they are cut for a man so didn't fit me right even though I loved the fabric and how comfortable they were. Darn it. But they look great on my husband. They also have a built in lining that provides... er... manly support, which I would imagine makes workouts more comfortable for the guys.
The shirt is sleeveless, with a really light and fast drying mesh fabric. It has a looser fit which is nice and cool. And it comes out of the washer and dryer looking exactly the same as it went in - no pilling and no shrinking (same goes for the shorts)!
Overall, Pitbull Clothing offers impressive quality. They
have some great athletic clothing (aka lounge wear for those of us who like super comfy clothing to settle down in in the evening) for women as well - for example, check out the Combed Cotton Basics Scoop Camisole (which has an inner bra) and the Lily Lotus Roll-Over Waist Pant (which is on sale at $24.95 down from $60!).And guess what?
Pitbull Clothing has generously offered one of my readers a $50 gift certificate towards anything on the site!
The giveaway: A $50 gift certificate to Pitbull Clothing!
How to enter: Head over to Pitbull Clothing and let me know what you'd put this towards, OR one thing that you learned there. Make sure I've got a way to contact you if you're the winner!
Extra entries (please leave an extra comment for each. If you already do any of these things, leave the comment - you do get the entry for it!):
- Subscribe via email to the Pitbull Clothing newsletter (bottom right of their website) - 2 entries
- Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name!)
- Tweet about this giveaway for ONE entry, this is not a daily! You can use this if you like:
Win a $50 GC to Pitbull Clothing at Emily's Latest. Yoga, casual & sportswear! @emilyisland http://bit.ly/cRnZtJ US/CAN 8/20
- Follow my blog (publicly) – 2 entries, leave 2 comments
- Add my blog button to your blog– 2 entries, leave 2 comments (please leave a link to your blog)
- Blog about this giveaway, linking back to this post and to Pitbull Clothing – 2 entries, leave 2 comments and please include a link to your post
Please be sure to include your email address if it’s not public in your blogger profile! Anonymous comments without a way to contact you will be rejected. Canadian or US mailing addresses only, please. Giveaway ends August 20th at 11:59 EST. A winner will be drawn the next day, announced here, in a separate post and emailed!
Prize will be shipped by sponsor. Note for Canadian entrants: Pitbull Clothing is not responsible for customs or duties that Canada may charge. For what it's worth, I was not charged any additional fees at the border on my order.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
The deets
After so long in the TTC (trying to conceive) category, I don't want to be one of those women who are all shouty about being pregnant. I'm thrilled to be, thrilled it's come this far (13 weeks and 3 days today!), thrilled that so far everything looks good for a successful pregnancy and a healthy baby. (So far... I'm still coming to terms with letting the anxiety of loss go.)
But I have felt the pain of hearing and reading about other women's pregnancies when we were trying and losing our own. Twice. So keep in mind with every happy post there is still fear and a lot of understanding for those of you who have experienced loss or are still trying to conceive. It has been a long road for us.
What has kept me hopeful with this one is just celebrating each day and trying not to focus on what could happen. Thinking to myself, "Today, I am Still Pregnant" has gotten me through a lot of scary moments this time around.
So here is what happened.
I'd been on FertilAid for women for about three months, and FertilCM for about one month. My husband was taking a reduced dose of FertilAid for men. I'd also been charting my basal body temperature on Fertility Friend, so I knew exactly when I ovulated and when to expect my period or take a test. I have to say, if you are TTC, charting is a hassle but totally worth it. While we were trying, it took the pressure off for much of the month. And since we got pregnant, it's been helpful in dating because I have a long cycle - knowing exactly when I ovulated means I know exactly how many weeks along I am. Based on my LMP (last monthly period) alone, my doctor would be looking for a baby with development a week ahead of where mine is, and I'd be scared things weren't progressing properly.
We had a BFP (Big Fat Positive on a pregnancy test) the week before my husband found out he was being transferred to Calgary for six months. At first the transfer was a shock, but really it has been perfect timing. He has avoided my morning sickness days and exhaustion, I've had the chance to get a ridiculous amount of sleep. He's working hard and I'm working hard, and at the end of his time out there, I'll have a month left to go. He'll be home when I need him. And with him coming home every second weekend, he's been able to come with me to the ultrasounds, which has been great.
The first ultrasound I had was really early, at six weeks. I was a mess of worry, with my history. So seeing that heartbeat at six weeks and two days was an incredible relief.
The second ultrasound was at eight weeks and two days. I'd had a lot of spotting and even some bleeds - talk about scary - so I was sent for another ultrasound. But the little heart was still going strong!
The most recent was on Friday, for the NT/IPS scan. This is the one where there is an integrated ultrasound scan and blood testing, screening for problems like Down's Syndrome. The ultrasound showed that we are at low risk for Down's, and the baby moved around for us. Still a good strong heartbeat. The baby even measured a day ahead. We were hoping for a guess at the gender, but this little one was uncooperative! All our reading about the nub and the 'angle of the dangle' was for naught. We will find out at the anatomy scan in about 6 weeks.
Every single time I have had tears in my eyes lying there on the ultrasound table. I am still nervous, half expecting bad news, since I've had so many ultrasounds where the tech goes all silent and you just know something's wrong. But so far, so good. I can hardly believe it.
I'm showing now - no hiding the baby bump. I've borrowed a bunch of maternity clothes from my friends, who all had their babies last year. That has been great. It's really weird not to recognize my own body when I look down or see myself in the mirror.
We shared the news with the family this past weekend. We sent out the ultrasound picture and had everyone over for a big party. It was chaos, exhausting, and wonderful to be surrounded by happy family.
My due date is February 4th (or 3rd if you go by my last ultrasound instead of my O date). And we don't have a cute name for the baby - I know a lot of couples have an in-the-womb nickname, but it just doesn't feel right. We do, however, have names picked out for a boy or a girl. In fact, we picked the girl name about six years ago, on something like our third date!
So there you go. Thank you all so much for the support and congratulatory comments! I was so happy to finally be able to share the news.
:)
But I have felt the pain of hearing and reading about other women's pregnancies when we were trying and losing our own. Twice. So keep in mind with every happy post there is still fear and a lot of understanding for those of you who have experienced loss or are still trying to conceive. It has been a long road for us.
What has kept me hopeful with this one is just celebrating each day and trying not to focus on what could happen. Thinking to myself, "Today, I am Still Pregnant" has gotten me through a lot of scary moments this time around.
So here is what happened.
I'd been on FertilAid for women for about three months, and FertilCM for about one month. My husband was taking a reduced dose of FertilAid for men. I'd also been charting my basal body temperature on Fertility Friend, so I knew exactly when I ovulated and when to expect my period or take a test. I have to say, if you are TTC, charting is a hassle but totally worth it. While we were trying, it took the pressure off for much of the month. And since we got pregnant, it's been helpful in dating because I have a long cycle - knowing exactly when I ovulated means I know exactly how many weeks along I am. Based on my LMP (last monthly period) alone, my doctor would be looking for a baby with development a week ahead of where mine is, and I'd be scared things weren't progressing properly.
We had a BFP (Big Fat Positive on a pregnancy test) the week before my husband found out he was being transferred to Calgary for six months. At first the transfer was a shock, but really it has been perfect timing. He has avoided my morning sickness days and exhaustion, I've had the chance to get a ridiculous amount of sleep. He's working hard and I'm working hard, and at the end of his time out there, I'll have a month left to go. He'll be home when I need him. And with him coming home every second weekend, he's been able to come with me to the ultrasounds, which has been great.
The first ultrasound I had was really early, at six weeks. I was a mess of worry, with my history. So seeing that heartbeat at six weeks and two days was an incredible relief.
The second ultrasound was at eight weeks and two days. I'd had a lot of spotting and even some bleeds - talk about scary - so I was sent for another ultrasound. But the little heart was still going strong!
The most recent was on Friday, for the NT/IPS scan. This is the one where there is an integrated ultrasound scan and blood testing, screening for problems like Down's Syndrome. The ultrasound showed that we are at low risk for Down's, and the baby moved around for us. Still a good strong heartbeat. The baby even measured a day ahead. We were hoping for a guess at the gender, but this little one was uncooperative! All our reading about the nub and the 'angle of the dangle' was for naught. We will find out at the anatomy scan in about 6 weeks.
Every single time I have had tears in my eyes lying there on the ultrasound table. I am still nervous, half expecting bad news, since I've had so many ultrasounds where the tech goes all silent and you just know something's wrong. But so far, so good. I can hardly believe it.
I'm showing now - no hiding the baby bump. I've borrowed a bunch of maternity clothes from my friends, who all had their babies last year. That has been great. It's really weird not to recognize my own body when I look down or see myself in the mirror.
We shared the news with the family this past weekend. We sent out the ultrasound picture and had everyone over for a big party. It was chaos, exhausting, and wonderful to be surrounded by happy family.
My due date is February 4th (or 3rd if you go by my last ultrasound instead of my O date). And we don't have a cute name for the baby - I know a lot of couples have an in-the-womb nickname, but it just doesn't feel right. We do, however, have names picked out for a boy or a girl. In fact, we picked the girl name about six years ago, on something like our third date!
So there you go. Thank you all so much for the support and congratulatory comments! I was so happy to finally be able to share the news.
:)
Friday, July 30, 2010
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Saucy Szechuan Eggplant (or not eggplant, as you like!)
So, no luck finding a recipe like the delicious Graceful Vegetarian eggplant hot pot.. yet.. I won't give up! It's too yummy to only be able to have it when I go out to eat, which is rarely!
I did come up with a recipe that is similarly saucy, and although it doesn't come anywhere near replicating the one I was looking for, it satisfied my eggplant craving for now. I'll share it with you - let me know if you try it out!
Saucy Szechuan Eggplant (any way you like it)
Heat about 1 Tbsp oil at medium heat in a skillet (or wok) and add the eggplant, cooking on both sides until golden (I did this in batches, adding more oil as needed). Set aside on paper towels. Toss the red pepper and green beans in and quickly saute for a couple minutes until the red peppers have softened slightly. Set aside with the eggplant.
Stir your bouillon mixture, and add it to your skillet. Add the dry sauce ingredients and whisk to combine. Stir constantly over medium heat until the sauce begins to boil and thickens. Add in the cooked vegetables and heat through.
Serve over rice and garnish with chopped green onion. Yum!
Options (always options!):
I did come up with a recipe that is similarly saucy, and although it doesn't come anywhere near replicating the one I was looking for, it satisfied my eggplant craving for now. I'll share it with you - let me know if you try it out!
Saucy Szechuan Eggplant (any way you like it)- 1 large eggplant (or 2 baby eggplants, or 3 Japanese eggplants (the long skinny ones) - about 2 cups), quartered lengthwise and sliced to 1/2" thick
- 1 red pepper, chopped into bite-size pieces
- 1 cup green beans, topped, tailed and cut to 2"
- cooking oil
- 1 1/4 cup boiling water
- 1 bouillon cube (I used vegetable, you could use chicken or beef)
- 2 Tbsp reduced sodium soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp tamari (or add an extra Tbsp of soy sauce)
- 1 tsp chili-garlic paste (or 1 tsp hot sauce, or more, or less to your taste)
- 1 Tbsp minced ginger (or 1 1/4 tsp ground ginger in desperate times)
- 2 Tbsp brown sugar
- 1 Tbsp corn starch
- 1 green onion, finely chopped
Heat about 1 Tbsp oil at medium heat in a skillet (or wok) and add the eggplant, cooking on both sides until golden (I did this in batches, adding more oil as needed). Set aside on paper towels. Toss the red pepper and green beans in and quickly saute for a couple minutes until the red peppers have softened slightly. Set aside with the eggplant.
Stir your bouillon mixture, and add it to your skillet. Add the dry sauce ingredients and whisk to combine. Stir constantly over medium heat until the sauce begins to boil and thickens. Add in the cooked vegetables and heat through.
Serve over rice and garnish with chopped green onion. Yum!
Options (always options!):
- Add in or substitute any other vegetables you like, eg broccoli florets, zucchini, baby corn, baby bok choi, etc.
- If you have a Chinese grocery store near you, you can pick up prepared deep-fried tofu in the refrigerator aisle. Give it a quick saute before the eggplant, drain on paper towels, and add in with the vegetables. I have been trying to cut back on soy (phytoestrogens), but I confess an abiding love for deep-fried tofu. That combination of chewy/crispy outside with the soft and juicy inside just makes me swoon.
- Carnivorous? Stir-fried chicken or beef strips would be nice in this.
- This would be great on noodles, too, instead of rice. Ramen style noodles are super quick to make, and you can throw them in the pan with the sauce and veg for a mixed dish, or serve over top of these or cooked soba noodles, for example. Even spaghetti noodles would do in a pinch.
Looking for a recipe...
...for eggplant hot pot. We recently ate at one of my all-time favourite restaurants, the Graceful Vegetarian in Markham. If you are ever near the Pacific Mall, make SURE to stop in at the Graceful Vegetarian right there in the plaza by Curry's for a meal - they have the most amazing, guilt-free food. Lots of 'mock' meats (duck, chicken, ham & pork, beef, even shark!) if you're craving protein (or traveling with carnivores).
We shared fried vegetable dumplings, veggie tempura, rice, and an eggplant hot pot that was to die for. I could have eaten the whole thing myself (and it's a big dish!). I would LOVE to figure out how to cook eggplant like that. It's not peanutty, or sesame-y. I can't even begin to guess what's in there. It's so delicious. Can anyone help me out with a fantastic saucy Chinese eggplant recipe?
I am a fan of eggplant in any form, but I think the Chinese have it down. Of course, Babu (also in Markham, on Weldon north of 16th, I think) does a fantastic Tamil version of eggplant that is sweet and so spicy you'll cry (but you won't want to stop eating it).
Can anyone tell I'm hungry and I have two baby eggplants in the fridge waiting for a recipe?
We shared fried vegetable dumplings, veggie tempura, rice, and an eggplant hot pot that was to die for. I could have eaten the whole thing myself (and it's a big dish!). I would LOVE to figure out how to cook eggplant like that. It's not peanutty, or sesame-y. I can't even begin to guess what's in there. It's so delicious. Can anyone help me out with a fantastic saucy Chinese eggplant recipe?
I am a fan of eggplant in any form, but I think the Chinese have it down. Of course, Babu (also in Markham, on Weldon north of 16th, I think) does a fantastic Tamil version of eggplant that is sweet and so spicy you'll cry (but you won't want to stop eating it).
Can anyone tell I'm hungry and I have two baby eggplants in the fridge waiting for a recipe?
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Reunion Island Coffee Review!
This has been a long time coming, sorry for the wait!
Reunion Island Coffee is a Canadian company that is founded on admirable principles. It's not just about high-quality coffee - they really are committed to sustainability, from supporting co-op farmers and fair trade to promoting responsible farm management. They support the Rainforest Alliance, and use Bullfrog Power in their Canadian roasting operations (Bullfrog sells power exclusively from wind and low-impact water power generators who meet or exceed the federal government’s EcoLogo standard for renewable electricity). With fair trade and organic certified coffees, Reunion Island is bringing us amazing brews with zero guilt factor.
I recently had the opportunity to try out a bag of Reunion Island Coffee, and let me tell you, it was a tricky decision on which variety to choose. They have everything from the more standard to the exotic - I tried to count the available varieties and came up with ninety-six (!!!), plus twenty-six kinds of pods! Um, wow. Check out the crazy long list here!
Although tempted by the flavoured varieties (Maple Cream, French Caramel, and the limited edition Toasted Marshmallow (yum!!) were calling my name), I went with the Siesta Decaf. It's a nice, bright, medium-light roast that is a perfect contrast to the dark and bold roast that is my regular brew. I'm a serious coffee lover - I grind fresh beans and make a cappuccino every morning with my beloved espresso machine, so I feel qualified to say that the Siesta Decaf is a lovely bean. It doesn't have the 'flat' flavour that is often found in a lighter roast; instead it has a robust flavour, just lighter. It is decaffeinated with the Swiss Water process (in British Columbia!), which uses no chemicals to remove the caffeine and also ensures the flavour stays at its fullest (some other decaffeinating methods which use chemicals also alter the flavour of the bean).
The quality of the coffee is a major selling point, but what tips the balance with Reunion Island Coffee for me is their commitment to better lives and a better world. I was thrilled to work with such an impressive Canadian company, and pleased that I can honestly recommend their product.
Reunion Island provided me a bag of coffee and a travel mug (which is awesome, by the way) to review. I was not paid for this article and it contains my honest opinions. You can find Reunion Island Coffee at specialty retailers, hotels and cafes in Canada and the US.
Reunion Island Coffee is a Canadian company that is founded on admirable principles. It's not just about high-quality coffee - they really are committed to sustainability, from supporting co-op farmers and fair trade to promoting responsible farm management. They support the Rainforest Alliance, and use Bullfrog Power in their Canadian roasting operations (Bullfrog sells power exclusively from wind and low-impact water power generators who meet or exceed the federal government’s EcoLogo standard for renewable electricity). With fair trade and organic certified coffees, Reunion Island is bringing us amazing brews with zero guilt factor.
I recently had the opportunity to try out a bag of Reunion Island Coffee, and let me tell you, it was a tricky decision on which variety to choose. They have everything from the more standard to the exotic - I tried to count the available varieties and came up with ninety-six (!!!), plus twenty-six kinds of pods! Um, wow. Check out the crazy long list here!
Although tempted by the flavoured varieties (Maple Cream, French Caramel, and the limited edition Toasted Marshmallow (yum!!) were calling my name), I went with the Siesta Decaf. It's a nice, bright, medium-light roast that is a perfect contrast to the dark and bold roast that is my regular brew. I'm a serious coffee lover - I grind fresh beans and make a cappuccino every morning with my beloved espresso machine, so I feel qualified to say that the Siesta Decaf is a lovely bean. It doesn't have the 'flat' flavour that is often found in a lighter roast; instead it has a robust flavour, just lighter. It is decaffeinated with the Swiss Water process (in British Columbia!), which uses no chemicals to remove the caffeine and also ensures the flavour stays at its fullest (some other decaffeinating methods which use chemicals also alter the flavour of the bean).
The quality of the coffee is a major selling point, but what tips the balance with Reunion Island Coffee for me is their commitment to better lives and a better world. I was thrilled to work with such an impressive Canadian company, and pleased that I can honestly recommend their product.Reunion Island provided me a bag of coffee and a travel mug (which is awesome, by the way) to review. I was not paid for this article and it contains my honest opinions. You can find Reunion Island Coffee at specialty retailers, hotels and cafes in Canada and the US.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Winner - Misikko Corioliss Classic Flat Iron! AND some scary strawberry news.
And we have a winner for the flat iron!
A big congratulations to Jenn, and a hint to my readers to check out her blog, Beautiful Calling - she has a giveaway on now and looks like some awesome ones coming up!
Hope you had fun with this one - stick around, I've got good stuff coming up. I know I've been a little off radar for the last little bit, but I'm coming back around. A lot of stuff's been happening around here and it's a whole new ball game taking care of a house and a dog without my husband around.
OH, and I recommend reading this article about strawberries - scary stuff. I'm all about buying local when I can, but those lovely strawberries from California are so enticing in the middle of a Canadian winter. I know now I'll be looking for the organic label or passing them by. If strawberries equal miscarriages, thyroid disease, neurotoxins and cancer, no thanks.
This summer we got a number of strawberries from our 18 organic plants (they're currently flowering towards a second crop - love everbearing!). I had intended to buy some at the local farm, but they were going for $25 a flat! Pricey! Usually we will buy a ton, wash and top them then freeze them in a single layer on a cookie sheet, and bag them once frozen. Frozen strawberries are pretty and delicious instead of ice cubes in summer drinks, perfect in smoothies, or thawed over ice cream.
A big congratulations to Jenn, and a hint to my readers to check out her blog, Beautiful Calling - she has a giveaway on now and looks like some awesome ones coming up!
Hope you had fun with this one - stick around, I've got good stuff coming up. I know I've been a little off radar for the last little bit, but I'm coming back around. A lot of stuff's been happening around here and it's a whole new ball game taking care of a house and a dog without my husband around.
OH, and I recommend reading this article about strawberries - scary stuff. I'm all about buying local when I can, but those lovely strawberries from California are so enticing in the middle of a Canadian winter. I know now I'll be looking for the organic label or passing them by. If strawberries equal miscarriages, thyroid disease, neurotoxins and cancer, no thanks.
This summer we got a number of strawberries from our 18 organic plants (they're currently flowering towards a second crop - love everbearing!). I had intended to buy some at the local farm, but they were going for $25 a flat! Pricey! Usually we will buy a ton, wash and top them then freeze them in a single layer on a cookie sheet, and bag them once frozen. Frozen strawberries are pretty and delicious instead of ice cubes in summer drinks, perfect in smoothies, or thawed over ice cream.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Winner - Tropical Traditions Organic Raw Honey!
Finally, finally... the winner for this yummy honey!
Congratulations!! I'm emailing the winner now.
Congratulations!! I'm emailing the winner now.
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Delay...
Sorry for the delay in picking the winner for the Tropical Traditions Organic Raw Honey - it'll be a little longer. My husband's home for a few more hours before he gets on a plane again, and we're going to the local Strawberry Festival! See you tomorrow :)
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