Why do we lie to our children?

Don't bite my head off without hearing me out!!!

 

First of all I love the holidays every one of them and I love some of the traditions we have in our family. But one year my husband and I just looked at each other and said "What the heck are we doin." Not only was Christmas getting bigger each year so was the Christmas "bill". This particular year we have no extra money to spare on gifts, but we had to keep up with the lie for fear of damaging our kids emotionally.

 

 

Christmas had become about buying gifts (we could not afford) and lying and it just started to feel WRONG to us.

 

 

"Mommy how it is possible that Santa gets to all the children in one night." One of our kids asked us this particular year and without skipping a beat we told them it was magic and that they had to believe.  Ouch!!! Yet the next day one of my kids lied to me and they got sent to the timeout chair.

 

"Mommy there is a monster under my bed." No sweetie there isn't monsters aren't real." Double ouch.

 

Something is just NOT right with this.

 

Why can't we have the sense of wonder and awh without the lying?  Why do we feel like 1 present under the tree isn't good enough - we need MORE for it to feel right.

 

Christmas is a time to reflect on our lives, spending time with loved one and the birth of Jesus Christ.  Instead it has become about consumerism and out right lies. & it is becoming more so every year that people are now saying Happy Holidays for fear of possibly insulting someone who is not Christian and not saying Merry Christmas...... so sad. But the Holiday is Christmas, that is it's actual name.

 

We have since apologized to our children for lying to them over the years with regards to Santa, Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairly and the like.

 

There has got to be another way.........

 

What are your thoughts? 

 

 a lie is a lie!!!

 

 





Why I am a Vegetarian

 

 

 

I became a vegetarian for a number of reasons but mainly because I had a moment of consciousness. I was having discussions with my daughter about animals and the treatment of them during the "processing" process. I just couldn't eat meat anymore. I thought of the poor animals and the fear they must be experiencing and I just couldn't bring myself to eating them any longer.

 

When you see how these poor creatures are really treated and slaughtered - MURDERED is a better word why would you WANT to have that karma in your body. They don't have a voice, they can't tell you they are scared and hurting.  I mean if you take a second to really think about it - you too might reconsider eating meat.

 

I don't think I was ever a huge meat eater growing up in fact both my parents were Vegetarians for decades until recently. In high school I took a baking class and learned a lot about bacteria in the kitchen and salmonella and I was turned off chicken for fear of getting sick. Even now when my husband is making chicken I cringe at the thought of bacteria. 

 

As a child my parents took us to Europe and while visiting a family member the discussion came up about eating horse meat.  I remember thinking how odd and yucky that sounded as I was a huge lover of horses. It was later told to me that I had just eaten horse meat for dinner that night. They laughed at me and I ran away crying.  To this day I don't know if they were playing a trick on me or if I really did eat horse meat.

 

I know that a lot of people can't imagine a dinner without the staple of meat, but it can be done and you really wont miss it.  If you think about the shear mass of meat that is need to keep up with the demand on a daily basis it is mind blowing. Not just your dinner table think globally and about all the fast food places that pump out burgers by the second. It is actually sickening to think about it. Cows are continuously artificially impregnated to keep up with the demand once the calf is born it is taken away from it's mommy and the process starts all over again for the cow - how heart wrenchingly sad.

 

I would love to be Vegan and will work my way towards that.

 

Ellen explains why she became Vegan:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teob40hWJ6g

 

Recipes for Vegans/vegetarians:

 

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=edgy+veg

 

Here are a few documentaries to watch if you so desire, they are thought provoking and hopefully will give you some perspective on this topic.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19qSsUI79Ro Vegucated - very good documentary

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Oq24hITFTY Food Inc.

 

 

I am still learning and plan on continuing to learn new ways to be conscious about animals and the treatment of them as well as our environment.  Hope you will too.  Thank you.

 

#vegetarian #vegan #animals

 

 

 

 

 

 





Give me a break

This is not a picture of me btw - but it is the closest picture I could find of an average looking lady working out.  Below is an actual picture of me working out.

I have been actively working out for years now.  I have been using the treadmill, doing weight training, cardio, yoga and HIIT to name a few.

Am I seeing a difference in my body?  A little and it feels good.  What does that say?  I need to change it up. Guess I have hit that dreaded plateau.  But where should I go from here, to whom shall I get accurate information from?  It can be very confusing. Do this don't do that eat that not that, get this amount of sleep drink this much water...etc. I have even heard a trainer say that you can do a really great workout but that sitting all day will Veto it.....wth?

I go to YouTube and look up different workouts and do them at home cause I really don't like the gym scene.  What I have found is that a lot (not all) of online trainers have 5-10 minute workouts with 3 lbs weights - as if that is going to do ANYTHING for you. Ok in fairness if you are a TRUE beginner at exercising then any amount of working out is good, just get started.  But come on, to try and sell this is absurd. GIVE ME A BREAK. Here you are watching these lovely men and women who are tight & fit & yummy looking trying to tell us that "you got 5-10 minutes a day? Then workout with me and you will see results"....no you wont!! What you will see is disappointment and the feeling of being a failure.  Those trainers workout for a living with years of experience and workout for hours a day to get that physique - don't let them fool you.

Check out this (annoying) 5 minute video I found on YouTube - listen to her language and how she is trying to sell this quick workout for your arms.....mean while she is a well known instructor working out for decades & probably hours a day in and out.

http://youtu.be/OzhKXShsp3c

Here is what I have noticed for me and my workouts (may not be true for you)  I find if I rotate cardio, strength (10 lbs. each dumb bell & working on increasing that) HIIT, Yoga.  At least 30-40 minutes a day (rest Sundays) I generally look and feel better.  Also a few months ago I started really looking at the food I ate. Lower carbs (but not eliminating them), ate more veggies. Once I did that I started to see even greater results. 

I heard someone say don't eat to fill up - eat to fuel up.  This resonated with me. 

Use food as fuel not as a filler. As best you can, eat things that are closest to nature, & not processed and drink water, get into a challenging exercise routine. Everything in moderation, even moderation.

My Bottom line:

We are all different and what might work for 1 person may not work for another. Keeping your body tuned up is vital on so many levels. So to sum up Watch what you put into your body - find a routine to rotate through on a REGULAR basis that really challenges you and you WILL see results. Maybe not in the 6-8 weeks these online trainers tell you - but eventually you will and it WILL be worth the effort. Do it for your future self, you will be happy you did.

If you have any workout tips to share please comment below, thanks.

Oh - here is the picture of me working out.  I try.....and keep trying.... :) Right now I am doing the Jessica Smith November Fall Challenge. Here is a link to her web site: http://www.jessicasmithtv.com/

What is Reflexology?

What is reflexology? 

Foot Reflexology works on the principle that there are points on the foot that correspond to every part, gland, and organ in the body. By applying pressure to these points, tension is relieved in a corresponding body part and the body can return to its normal balanced state. The body is seen as a whole integrated connective system similar to the Chinese tradition which sees the body as a network of energy channels. For an interesting website on Chinese medicine, click here. Some form of this practice has apparently been used from ancient times and in different cultures. The modern revival of reflexology in the west began in the 1920s with the work of American physicians W. Fitzgerald and J.S. Riley. Building on their work, Eunice D. Ingham developed it into a therapy (the Ingham Method) and through her efforts it began to be practiced widely. Brief histories of the topic are given in articles from the International Institute of Reflexology and on several other websites.

Many countries have national associations that organize activities and set standards of practice. The International Council of Reflexologists attempts to bring together practitioners from different countries and lists many organizations on its website. At least three countries (China, Denmark and the United Kingdom) recognize reflexology in their national health care systems.

Much of the evidence regarding the effectiveness of this practice is anecdotal but some experimental data are becoming available. Abstracts of research papers can be found, for example, on the website of the Pacific Institute of Reflexology.
A typical treatment session lasts 45 to 60 minutes. The client relaxes while the practitioner takes a history, cleans the feet, warms them up and then applies pressure to the reflex points in a systematic way. To find a reflexologist, or to learn how to become a practitioner, contact your local or national association. Courses in reflexology practice and teaching, with certification through the Reflexology Association of Canada, are given in Canada and internationally by Wellness Training Services. The concept of walking on a pebbly surface as a healthful activity has been known for a long time. "Cobblestone paths" exist in public parks in many parts of the world. Examples of these are found in China and the state of Washington, USA. Devices such as the mat described on this website do not fully replace a treatment by a qualified practitioner but they have the advantage that they are always available for a self-administered foot massage. These mats are designed to apply pressure to the reflex points as well as to give a general massage to the muscles on the bottoms of the feet.

NOTE: Reflexologists do not diagnose, prescribe or treat specific conditions. Always consult your medical professional for health related problems.

Want to do reflexology at home, buy one of our reflexology mats.  Here is the link below. 

Thank you.

                                                  www.footreflexology-massagemat.com

Why?

RIP Cpl. Nathan Cirillo

I have got to say right off the bat that I don't pretend to know anything about any radical religion and frankly speaking I don't think I really want to know much about them - but what I would like to know is why hurt others?

Is there not a fundamental humanity base in your culture? Do you not sympathise with others of the human race, or are you just completely brain washed into thinking this is something your God wants you to do. And by the way what "God" of any religion would WANT you to harm others.

I can't even kill a bug let alone being able to take another persons life in the name of anything I may believe in.

I have come to the conclusion that people who assume any radicalism must not be right in the head to begin with, there must be some underlying mental issues.

Check out this video of a school presumably teaching their children to behead.

http://www.wnd.com/2014/10/canada-mosque-teaches-4-year-olds-how-to-behead/

I should mention that this video was taken years ago according to another report and that the children are simply reinacting a historic event. Here is a link to the counter article.

http://www.shalomlife.com/news/26208/no-a-canadian-mosque-is-not-teaching-4-year-olds-to-behead/

 a quote from the above article....

“It’s a Shiite school, and it’s commemorating one of the great tragedies in Islamic history, which is the slaughter of the Prophet Muhammad’s family by the caliphate of the time,” says Fatah, who also notes that he himself watched these plays as a boy growing up in Pakistan.

I don't even know how to conclude this blog, I am at a loss for words.

I am deeply saddened and very concerned that people are being conditioned to believe that murdering others is an honorable thing to do.

Please go in peace not hatred.


What are your thoughts?  Please feel free to share

Thank you.

An article about the Ottawa shooting:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa-shooting-where-did-michael-zehaf-bibeau-get-his-gun-1.2811249

Ebola - Yes, I am going there...

Ok.....as I take a deep breath!!! I am going to give my take on this God awful worldwide problem that is call Ebola. (caution swearing ahead)

I think that I have a healthy balance of being cautious and being slightly paranoid when it comes to germs, how they are spread, keeping my hands washed, wiping down door knobs and heavy traffic areas of my house. 

I just can't wrap my head around the fact that trained professionals and world leaders are taking this epidemic in such a nonchalant way.

It has become abundantly clear to me that people with direct contact with those known to have Ebola should without a doubt be quarantined for the 21 days after last contact in an effort to contain it.  Do not get on a fucking plane and travel the world because you are confident you are healthy - how dare you?

The staff at the Texas Hospital should have been put on a MANDATORY 21 days quarantine JUST IN CASE.....and now lo and behold we have 2 nurses infected out of the 77 people reported to have been in contact with the infected patient & they were in full Hazmat suits to boot!!! Ya let me travel on an airplane 1 day before being tested positive for Ebola all while knowing one of my colleagues is infected whom I worked along side of.  Bonehead move on the 2nd nurses behalf, what was she thinking?  What is that hospital thinking?

http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/ebola-outbreak-dallas-nurse-took-frontier-airlines-flight-before-becoming-ill-1.2798937

This is happening, this is not a joke!!!  Many are saying not to fall prey to the hype.  Others are saying this is natures way of a natural human purge, some are even saying that there isn't Ebola happening in Africa and that it is all a media ploy or some kind of Pharmaceutical money grab.  Really?  Come on.....I say get a grip and err on the side of caution.

Quarantine and or Isolate those people who were in direct contact with Ebola infected patient for the 21 days, this will be way more effective than letting potential carriers walk amongst the population , no?  Mind you - here is a study saying that the 21 days MAY not be enough.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/10/141015112323.htm

The longer this little bugger called Ebola is out there the more likely it will mutate into a different strain, so I urge people not to travel if you have been even near someone with Ebola.  We don't need any more news reporters going to infected areas of Africa.  Stay put for crying out loud. Lock down the Texas Hospital and its staff and lets get a handle on this. Drastic measures for a drastic, potentially worldwide catastrophic epidemic.

Finally, I want to mention that those dealing with this are very brave and I thank them for helping the sick. However, you too may very well be a carrier and as such you should isolate yourself accordingly.

What are your thoughts on this?

Please share & post your thoughts in the comment section below. 

Thanks for reading by blog.

#Ebola #Outbreak #Africa #Travel

My Pet Peeves

I did a blog on my favorite things and now I here are some of my Pet peeves:

Wikipedia defines Pet peeves as:
A pet peeve or pet hate is a minor annoyance that an individual identifies as particularly annoying to themselves, to a greater degree than others may find it.

We all have them and they are different for each of us and they can usually be very pronounced if we are already annoyed.

Here are some of mine. (in no particular order)

• People talking or being loud at the movie theater:

I find it very annoying that people would be so inconsiderate of others who paid to watch a movie in peace.  Be quite at the movies people!!!

• Waiting in long lines:

For example waiting in a big line up at Tim Hortons for people getting big orders.  Hey Timmies, have a coffee only line will ya!!!

• Picking up dog shit:

I know it is the law but how disgusting is it to hunch over and scoop up warm shit, I mean come on back when I was a kid if you stepped in it you just wiped it off, what's the big deal???

• People blowing their nose in public:

Snot.....enough said

• Being late:

I can't stand being late and not being able to do anything about it - like being stuck in traffic knowing you are going to be late and someone waiting for you.

• Leaving pets in too hot of a car or too cold:

I can't get over how stupid some people are, just baffles me that they just don't get how dangerous this is to their pet. I am one of those people that would smash the window open!!!

• People who are sick, yet they go out about their day or send their kids to school:

Okay - this is a big one for me.  Again can't believe I have to spell this out for some really dumbass people. If you are sick (contagious in someway)....STAY THE HECK HOME.  Same goes for your kids, don't pump them up with Tylenol and send them off to School/Daycare to spread the illness. Geeeessshhhhh.

• Mean spirited people

There are some people who are just out and out mean.  They have no clue how to be a nice, kind person.  These people really rub me the wrong way, I often wonder what made them that way and I try to be extra kind to these individuals.....as unfortunately I know a few of them.

Well, that is basically it lol.  What are your Pet Peeves?

Please share your comments below, thanks for reading my blog.

#petpeeves #annoying #blog #pest #stupidity

Last year was hard - yet I am Thankful for it

Thanksgiving, a time to reflect on what you are thankful for the year past. I got to tell you that although it was one of the hardest years in recent memory and yet I am Thankful for it.

Going back a year - Our T.V show had now been airing for about a month and things were going great. Fans would approach us and talk about the show and how much they loved it. Our work life was doing great, family was great, health was great - hey nothing to complain about here! but then things just got really tough.

Although I am not going to go into too much detail here (as we are writing a memoir down the road) I will say that it was a year wasted on waiting. We waited and put a lot of opportunities on hold as we were 100% certain that our beloved TV show would get subsequent season. For reasons still unknown to us the network took forever to make the call to our production company and when they did we knew we were screwed - we would now face months of near financial catastrophe.

It was literally one day after finding out that the TV show would not be renewed that our daughter did not show up for work, this was uncharacteristic of her and in my gut I knew to call the emergency dept. the emergency nurse answered the phone and I frantically asked if they had our daughter there, her response was "Well, this is a very difficult call for us to make." I nearly died - she confirmed that our daughter was in fact there and had flipped her car.  Turns out she flipped her car 2 times and landed upside down into a frozen pond. We rushed to the emergency dept. and found her strapped on a stretcher. I kissed her forehead and she cried saying she was sorry about the car. Bless her heart....She walked away with a tiny scratch, what a miracle.

Shortly after that it would be back to the same emergency department but this time with our son - who got a nasty spider bite and had a red line creeping up his arm which if left untreated could turn into potential fatal blood poisoning.

I could go on but I think I am painting a pretty clear picture about how this past year went down - and it continued to go down, way down.......I could bitch I could complain and I could point fingers but a wise women told us once "Take the higher road!" hard to do but will lead by her example.

But here I sit early Saturday morning coffee in hand and the sun shining through the window and seeing the most beautiful color display mother nature has provided us all with and I am thankful for it all. Both of our children are healthy, safe and happy. Tomorrow I welcome into my home my wonderful parents where my husband will put on an amazing meal for us all. We have some truly amazing fans who reach out to us lovingly on a daily basis from around the world - yes our little TV show has aired worldwide and we couldn't be happier about that. (you'd think that going worldwide and having it be successful worldwide would warrant subsequent seasons right? apparently not)

So although it was the year of "H E double hockey sticks" (hell). I am happy, healthy and ready for all the new adventures life has to offer.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all.  Many thanks for reading.

What are you Thankful for?

You going to eat that?

I don't know about you but going grocery shopping makes me crazy. I really don't like any type of shopping especially food shopping. As I have become more aware of food and more mindful of what I put in my body it has even become more frustrating.

I am guilty of over thinking certain things and when I dig into something that interests me I can get overwhelmed. Looking into foods that are bad for you is truly an eye opener. For those who haven't done any homework on what it in their food are in for a shock.

Now you have to have SOME common sense and realise that we can't be 100% perfect eaters ALL the time. But we certainly can make an effort to improve.

All fast food is unhealthy but one of the worst places to take your family to eat (in my opinion) is McDonalds. Although they have tried to remarket themselves into the healthy choice place to eat - they are BY FAR unhealthy. Instead try taking the family to the park with a home packed home made picnic (no prepackaged foods). This way not only do you know what is going into their bodies they will be getting fresh air & exercise.  A win win.

I am way from being perfect in this dept. but I am trying on a daily basis to improve. So, back to the grocery store. My thought is that if it is in a box it probably isn't a good food choice. The easiest thing to try and do is by local fresh ingredients as they are in season and look up new fun recipes that you can make with them. It can be a lot of extra work but well worth the effort in the long run.

I am a vegetarian (an ethical choice) and at first I thought it was going to be difficult but really it wasn't. I feel better about the choices I am making as well as leaving animals to be animals and not slaughtering them and eating them. The supply and demand for meat is crazy; back to Mc D's think about all the burgers they sell each and every day worldwide and that is just one chain - then there is A & W, Harvey's, Jack in the Box etc.... Yikes that is a lot of beef (with tons of fillers & hormones) Barf, no thanks.



If you are interested here is a web site to start your "eating better" journey. Now again, it may be overwhelming at first but stick with it and cut yourself some slack. You got this!!!

http://foodbabe.com/

Don't eat blindly - know what you are putting into your body. I am working on this with my 16 year old son, what a battle.

Thank you for reading and please feel free to leave me your comments. Have a great day. :)

#vegetarian #clean #choice #eatwell

Consumerism (a nasty word)

Consumerism is a social and economic order and ideology that encourages the acquisition of goods and services in ever-greater amounts. (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumerism)

I wonder where it all started? When did we have to have it all at the expense of our financial future? When did having everything we WANT and not what we NEED become a primary focus?

My parents bought their first home in the mid 1960's for $10,000 and from what I hear from my Mother that if you had an annual earning of over $10,000 you were well to do.  

Nowadays (at least in my area) homes are selling for over $500,000.  As a matter of fact this past weekend we went to a garage sale at an estate around the corner from us that is listed and on the market at almost 4 Million dollars. According to a well known banks website you need to have an annual income of about $107,000.00 in order to qualify to purchase a home worth $500,000.00 - Imagine the income you would have to make to be able to afford that 4 million dollar place - the calculator on the website I got the other information on a $500K home couldn't even give me an answer - it just read to contact a branch to inquire. WOW. If you had an 1960's income nowadays of $9000.00 a year you could afford to buy a home for $2194.00 (according to the same web site). Puts things into perspective.

We live in a WANTS time as apposed to NEEDS; a flip flop from generations past.  A new Cell phone just got released and within days there were over 10 million cell phones sold - Question, what was wrong with all those 10 million peoples other cell phone? Why do we feel the need to have the newest of things.

Buy a bigger, better, newer car. Kids need all the newest high end gadgets, we need a bigger better wedding than such and such........WHY WHY WHY??? If you can' afford it - don't do it. Short term pain, long term gain.

A youngster I was watching one day saw that we were changing our flooring from peel and stick which was pink, dirty and ugly to nice new hardwood flooring.  She asked why were changing it - and what was wrong with the older floor. Stopping me in my tracks I thought "Nothing is wrong with the other floor." Yet We went into Dept. to install this hardwood flooring when in fact the other floor was just fine.

Out with the old - in with the new. A troubling thought as I get older and start to see the trap that I along with just about everyone else has fallen into. Can't afford it - put it on credit, in credit card trouble get a consolidation load, can't afford those payments either refinance your house & the vicious cycle continues. As you get older it becomes so much more important to have no mortgage and a huge savings account (specially those without pensions).  I wish I could go back and tell my younger self what I know now.  Think my kids will listen to me if I try to teach them this now?

Please write your comments and share your stories of struggles and successes on this topic. Or have any resource information that has helped you and your family - pls share it here as well.  Thank you.

A few of my favorite things....

Favorite things; they make us happy, give us comfort, put a smile on our faces. You know the song "I simply remember my favorite things and then I don't feel so bad." You just sang it in your head right? I know I did.

Well here are a few of my favorite things just because I feel like sharing. Here we go and they are in no particular order. Enjoy and please feel free to comment.

Disney's Typhoon Lagoon; To me the happiest place I could imagine being. I just love it there. It is a Tropical themed water park with Caribbean music playing and white sandy beaches with Tiki huts everywhere selling yummy drinks. Cool water rides with caves and a lazy river and a massive wave pool. A must see.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/destinations/typhoon-lagoon/

Jessica Smith's workouts; She is an online personal trainer who is the girl next door and extremely personable. She has perfect form and is easy to follow. I workout with Jessica on a daily basis. Her over 200+ FREE workouts are easy to follow and will get you results. Check her out, something for everyone, you wont regret it. (She also has amazing professionally made DVD's of her workout as well)

http://www.jessicasmithtv.com/

Red Wine; I love a good glass of red wine in the evenings. I must say this is my guilty pleasure. Right now our house wine at home is Cesari - fine wines of Verona (Merlot). It has a good bouquet and a full-bodies flavour. LCBO: http://www.lcbo.com/lcbo/product/cesari-merlot-delle-venezie/572453#.VBWy6BNzbIU
But my red wine of choice for a treat is by far Masi. LCBO: http://www.lcbo.com/lcbo/product/masi-costasera-amarone-classico-doc/317057#.VBWzVxNzbIU This bottle of wine actually gave me goose bumps.

Contagious laughter; I love a really good laugh and all I can say about that is watch this YouTube video at the time it had 19,838,799 views. Enjoy.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p32OC97aNqc

Sushi; Robbie and I have been Sushi tasting all about Toronto. We each have our favorite roll, his is Spicy Salmon and mine is Avocado Cucumber. To be honest with you and this might be a shocker for some of you but the best we have found SO FAR is from a Grocery store called Oceans. You get 8 rolls for $2.99 on sale. Great value and bang for your buck.

http://www.grocerysavings.ca/onlinegrocerystores/ontario/oceansfreshfoodmarketflyer.asp

Facebook; I love being on Facebook. I enjoy seeing all that my friends and family are up to and getting caught up with them as well. I was able to locate some long lost relatives that I probably wound not be able to find without it.  Stop by and say hello - follow us: @Mr.&Mrs.Hollywood on Facebook.

Some others things that are my favorite things are spending family time with our kids, a neat and tidy home, tropical places, yummy bagels, a good movie and ALL of Robbie's home cooking. :)
I am a very luck lady.

What are some of your favorite things?

The view from where I sit

I'm a Leo, please don't hold that against me. As a Leo I can be very stubborn and as such get myself in some hot water, but nothing I can't handle.  I am opinionated yet open to hearing all side to a story, even though mine is always the right way (lol)- I can still appreciate others input.

With regards to parenting these days I have had to bite my tongue a time or two. Kids are running the show and the parents just don't seem to see it or chose to not see it. For example getting a toy when I was a kid happened at my birthday or was found under the Christmas Tree. Getting toys for todays kids seems to be an almost every day event. Even if is a toy from the dollar store it is still affirming to the child that they get something wherever they go - they don't understand the value of the dollar and whether you are spending $1.00 or $100.00.

I was once at a highly recognizable restaurant (if you can call it that) indoor place area with a few kids I was watching and I noticed a group of Moms eating lunch with their children. One mom came back from being inline for a spell with a bag full of crap....I mean food for her son. Upon discovering what was in the bag the kid started freaking out. "That is not what I wanted - I want something else." and without skipping a beat the mom got back up and went to stand in line to get her son what he wanted. I didn't know if I should smack her or her son. Both behaviours were terrible. All done in the name of not causing the kid to have a melt down in public no doubt, well she can shoot yourself in both feet at this point.

So let us chat about saying "No." You do know that it is okay and beneficial to say no to your children on a regular basis. I will admit that this actually was easy for me to do when my kids were smaller. My kids knew that no really meant no in our household, not I will keep asking until I get my way, that just got them into trouble but they learned quickly. You are only setting your children up for disappointment after disappointment as they get older if you lead them to believe they will always get what they want. Believe you me I am no perfect parent and I have always room for growth and development even as a Leo.

In closing as I have a 20 yr old and a 16 yr old I want to remind you that time is fleeting and before you know it your children will be moving out. While you have them under your roof set boundaries, say no, talk to them about personal finance, teach them to give back to the community, cook & bake with them and always give plenty of hugs and positive reinforcement. Mistakes will be made, milk will be spilled and that is okay, been there done that. May the force be with you :)

Happy parenting......

Boobies, Breasts, Knockers

 

 

I want to talk about breast. There are a lot of different names and references to breast, some of which are not very nice. Right off the bat I want to say that I love breast – they are amazing in their function and purpose. I mean look what they can do; they produce food for babies, wow!!  how wonderful is that. Not all moms however can breast feed and there is no shame in that. This post is not in any way shaming women and or breasts and the ultimate topic which is breast feeding.

There has been a lot of talk of late on breasts and going topless and the right to do so. As a matter of fact women in France are starting to cover up at the beach as noted in a recent Huffington post article, noting some reasons such as skin cancer to higher amounts of social media and other beach goers posting unwanted picture on the internet. I say if you don’t want something out there by way of social media, maybe you shouldn’t be doing it in the first place. Just a thought.

So, here is the thing (In my opinion) As I said before breast are amazing, I believe in breast feeding (if you can) I breast fed both my kids till they were about a year and a half. I wouldn’t however whip my boob out in front of others to breast feed my child. Whether my child was urgently hungry or not I would be very mindful of others around me and feed my child with discretion. Imagine for a moment being at a family bbq or at a public park and a little boy had to pee (just as natural as breast feeding, right) but we wouldn’t encourage him to whip out his penis and urinate anywhere he so pleased. We would teach him to excuse himself to a more appropriate place to relieve himself. As with breast feeding we should be aware that maybe others find it uncomfortable and at the very least cover up.

As with women going publicly topless, I just don’t agree with that. Especially on this side of the world where I would think a good percentage of people see breasts as sexual. We have been conditioned to think this way through media and social networks etc. I personally don’t understand why any women would want to walk around topless. I would love to hear some reasons why they would like to!  I think that if you want to go partially nude in public go where you can do so without making others feel uncomfortable like a nude beach for example.

Breast feeding should be done where ever, public or private but in my opinion with some discretion covering up with a breathable fabric like a soft light cotton blanket for example. But going topless in public isn’t the only thing that people do in public that I don’t think they should, would include, blowing your nose, making out, passing gas. Certain things we should excuse ourselves and at the very least be discrete and mindful of others.  Thank you for reading my 1^st blog. I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Link to a breast feeding cover up cape:
http://discreetdining.com/


Here is the link to the Huffington Post article:

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/09/09/french-women-bid-topless-_n_5789072.html?utm_hp_ref=canada-living&icid=maing-grid7%7Ccanada%7Cdl2%7Csec1_lnk3%26pLid%3D527031

#breast #boobies #breastfeeding