A Lot of Loves

Mini-Baker: Wednesday of Few Words

December 1st, 2010

A few months ago, I decided that I was no longer going to buy bread. I was going to make homemade bread all the time! Every day! Or at least once a week. I shuffled off to the store and snapped up a shiny new bread machine – another beeping Cuisinart as it turns out – and declared myself a bread making genius.

A few months of bread machine bread, however, didn’t make me a convert to “homemade” bread, and I started thinking about checking out the book that Nicole told me about. I believe she told me it was “AWESOME”. And she’s right. It is awesome, and easy enough that my kids can help me make the bread with very little effort. The book, Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day, is filled with recipes that let you make true homemade bread without a machine, and also without kneading.

Enough dough is made at once to last for a few loaves (the dough is kept in the refrigerator). It’s super simple, and my two-year-old is always keen to help.

I think she has a career as a baker.

Do you make homemade bread? I’d love to hear about any other bread cookbooks or websites you might love.

If you have a Wordless or Wordful Wednesday post link up below!

STEALING MAKES YOUR MAMA SAD. DON’T DO IT. © Marilyn for A Lot of Loves, 2010. |
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A Cuisinart Coffeemaker and Fake Snow are Totally Related

November 29th, 2010

Some time ago, a coffeemaker designer at Cuisinart decided that it was a smart thing to add an end-of-cycle beep function. Cuisinart implemented the beep, but neglected to allow the user the option to override this Very Stupid Function. This meant that when my husband chose to get up at 6am on Sunday morning, and have a cup of coffee from his brand-new coffeemaker, the entire house was woken up by a series of unnecessarily loud beeps gleefully ringing out in announcement of a new fresh pot of java.

The coffeemaker needed to go.

There was no argument that coffeemaker was going back to the store, there was, however, a problem in locating the receipt for the machine. A careful search of the general area, including vehicles and the recycling, turned up a big zip, and so I turned to The Cupboard.

The Cupboard is actually a series of three cupboards that’s sole purpose is to hide whatever random bits of stuff we shove in there. It’s a super-sized junk drawer, that sucks in items that don’t have a home elsewhere, and rarely lets them go again. The Cupboard is (was) ridiculous.

In the three hours it took me to go through the items in The Cupboard, I found not one, but two blobs of homemade Playdough that had turned hard and moldy.

The males in the household demanded to see this before I was allowed to throw it out.

I was also reminded that I am a terrible mother who hasn’t finished my daughter’s baby book yet. I found the book hanging out with a pumpkin light that I bought two years ago and keep forgetting that I own, a package of make-your-own-fake-snow, and a tiny stuffed hippo.

I'm going to finish that baby book this weekend. Pinky swear.

The Jimmy Dean clock made another appearance, as well as a fake egg that will supposedly sprout basil when I add water (and love!), and some printed sheets that I can use to make homemade chocolates all fancy-like.

This weekend, I'm totally using those sheets to decorate chocolates. Right after the baby book is completed. Double-pinky swear!

Hours later, it was apparent that the Cuisinart coffeemaker receipt had disappeared forever and ever, and that there was nothing left to be done, but to go outside and make our own fake snow.

Making fake snow is pretty easy:

Step one: Get the kids riled up with excitement over creating fake snow.

Step two: Pour fake snow powder into bucket.

Step three: Pour water into bucket.

Step four: Toss that mess onto the ground and watch as the kids try to figure out what they’re supposed to do with that pile of weird white gel that is something, but it certainly isn’t snow.

Step five: Relax. They’ve figured it out.

Step six: Leave the kids tossing fake snow around the yard, while you return a beeping coffeemaker to the store and sweet-talk the manager into giving you a refund instead of store credit.

After I returned home, I looked up some online reviews of our Cuisinart coffeemaker and was bowled over by the fact that not a single review I read complained about the beep. Not one! I am amazed. Am I the only one who finds a beeping coffeemaker an obnoxious thing?

STEALING MAKES YOUR MAMA SAD. DON’T DO IT. © Marilyn for A Lot of Loves, 2010. |
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One Day, Three Ways

November 26th, 2010

Three of us woke up this morning and found that the world was covered in a new blanket of white snow.

One of us had to shovel the driveway, but didn’t mind so much because it felt like decent exercise.
One of us was overjoyed with the snow and spent over 30 minutes consuming the largest snowball breakfast ever.
One of us started out excited about the snow, but tripped over her scarf and came crashing to the ground face first resulting in two teeth through her bottom lip.

Three of us piled into the car and traveled over un-plowed streets to arrive at the local pool just in time for the four-year-old’s swim lesson.

One of us had a minor altercation with a nincompoop in the change room, but felt the pool visit redeemed itself when it was discovered that there were only seven other people, besides ourselves, that feel snowy weather is a good time to go swimming.
One of us had the best swim lesson ever and spent over 45 minutes practicing what he learned after the lesson was over. (This is unheard of.)
One of us refused to sit on her bum on the change room bench, and slipped and fell on her head on the hard tile floor.

Three of us spent some time relaxing in the living room after dinner.

One of us paid the bills.
One of us pretended that he was a superhero and practiced leaping from the couch to the floor.
One of us tried to pretend that she was a superhero but landed on her face – again! – and put two different teeth through the other side of her bottom lip.

Two of us went to bed.

One of us pretended that he was asleep and periodically called out random questions from his bed until sleep overcame him.
One of us happily crawled into bed, and fell asleep, only to fall out of bed 60 minutes later, which capped her Very Rough Day and required multiple renditions of Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star before calm was restored.

One of us is still awake.

Happy that one child had such a good day, with an unusual lack of drama, and hopeful that the other child will experience a lot less bumps come the morrow.

STEALING MAKES YOUR MAMA SAD. DON’T DO IT. © Marilyn for A Lot of Loves, 2010. |
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It Came From the Sky: Wednesday of Few Words

November 24th, 2010

On Saturday, we awoke to a strange sight.

Although we live in Canada, it rarely snows where I live. It doesn’t snow much in Vancouver in the first place, but our house happens to sit in a suburb of Vancouver that gets the least snow of all of the surrounding municipalities. I like it like that, but it does make for sad kidlets when they watch TV shows with kids sledding and building snowmen and I have to tell them that they may not get a lot of chance to live the life of a kid in a winter-themed cartoon.

On snow day morning, the kids ran to the window overjoyed with the odd sight of white covering the lawn. My newly minted four-year-old knew what snow was and he happily suited up and ran outside to play.

The two-year-old wasn’t so sure about the whole thing. She lasted about 10 minutes before wanting to come back inside. Smart girl.

The four-year-old was pretty happy.

And then a little less happy.

And then not really happy at all.

It was a little cold.

Do you have a special Wednesday post? If so link up below!

STEALING MAKES YOUR MAMA SAD. DON’T DO IT. © Marilyn for A Lot of Loves, 2010. |
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At Four it Gets So Much Easier…?

November 22nd, 2010

A little over a year ago, I stood on a beach discussing parenthood with a close friend of mine. The theme of the conversation was my son, and his penchant for making me work extra hard for the title of mother. This was not the first time that I’d had that conversation and neither was it even close to the last. My friend, whose two children are older than mine, told me not to worry for it would all get easier (“So much easier” was the direct quote) when my kids turn four.

I’m not sure that my friend realizes how precious that statement was to me. So much easier. I’ve repeated those three words to myself when the going got rough. And my dear, first born child, has given me as rough a ride as a preschooler can give.

My son turns four today. This is the moment that I’ve been waiting for. For so long. And yet, I don’t see any clear skies for smooth sailing on the near horizon. The reality is, my son has always been a mover and shaker. A kid who had things to do. Places to go. Couches to jump on. And rugs to turn somersaults on. The older he gets, the more that I realize he is his father’s son. If my husband is incapable of sitting still at the age of 36, it’s not likely to happen with my child of four.

Neither should I expect my son to be a go-with-the-flow person. He will likely always balk at new experiences and he won’t be a fan of change. He’ll like many things, but won’t love a lot. However, when he does find something that he cares about, that love will be deep and true and long.

He thinks nothing is funnier than ticking other people off – specifically, me. This is a trait I could do without. I dislike it in my husband and I would be happy to see this trait disappear in my son. I’m not sure that this will ever go away. This trait is the reason that my son was not allowed to have a kids party for his birthday. All of the stress I had about where to hold his party was for naught, since he escalated his negative attention seeking to such a level that I was about to have a break-down. My husband told him if he continued doing what he was doing, he wouldn’t have a kids party.

He didn’t have a kids party.

He did, however, have a small family party. It was good. Great even. Exhausting. Good and great and exhausting.

Now he’s four. And it’s going to get so much easier.

STEALING MAKES YOUR MAMA SAD. DON’T DO IT. © Marilyn for A Lot of Loves, 2010. |
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Listening Ears

November 18th, 2010

Could you talk to your son about listening next time?

He had some trouble with listening today.

It might be a good idea to talk to him about using his listening ears.

He seems to have some issues with listening.

This is the feedback I have been hearing almost every time I pick up my four-year-old son from school/swimming lessons/Sunday School.

I’ve perfected my look of pity and understanding when his teachers approach me with their earnest advice. It’s a look that clearly conveys the message: Oh! Listening ears. But of course! Silly me, I should have mentioned that to him before. Poor you having to manage a four-year-old who isn’t listening. Not at all like myself, to whom he listens to without issue. I will simply bring it up to him the next time we’re having a civilized and quiet dinner time discussion.

Because all of our discussions are quiet and civilized and my son always uses his listening ears.

I’m sure that tomorrow will be a better class because we will have had the Listening Ears Discussion.

K, it’s really important that you listen to what your teacher says when you’re in class.

*Nod. Nod.*

Great! Problem solved. And I thought it would be so hard.

Is it even possible to give me advice on how to get my son to behave and listen in class? Or better yet at home? Cause that would be awesome if someone had the magic ticket to listening ears…but I’m not holding my breath.

STEALING MAKES YOUR MAMA SAD. DON’T DO IT. © Marilyn for A Lot of Loves, 2010. |
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Etsy Here I Come: Wednesday of Few Words

November 17th, 2010

I have craft envy. I subscribe to approximately 500 blogs in my reader (this may be why I often feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of unread posts). Approximately a fifth of those blogs are craft blogs. I want to be like those bloggers. I want to be able to create something beautiful or quirky or unique out of yarn or clay or beads or metal.

I browse Etsy often to fan the flames of my craft passion. In fact, I would love to have my own Etsy shop one day. Whether that future shop will be filled with cute crochet animals, or stunning jewelry, or something else entirely, I just haven’t decided yet.

Before I came home on Sunday to find water gushing out of a burst water pipe, I had attended two jewelry making classes. I’ve made jewelry before, but I thought I might want to learn some proper technique. The courses did not allow a lot of time for practical application. Still, I managed to make a bracelet and a necklace that I think aren’t too bad for a newbie.

The bottom necklace is made with 100% sterling silver and Swarovski crystals. It’s much harder to capture the shiny than I thought, but you get the idea. Pretty, non?

Etsy here I come!

(PS. I have a giveaway running right now that is open WORLDWIDE for a great book for kids called An Awesome Book of Thanks. Just in time for the holidays! )

Have a special Wednesday post? Link up below!

STEALING MAKES YOUR MAMA SAD. DON’T DO IT. © Marilyn for A Lot of Loves, 2010. |
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A List of Awesome

November 16th, 2010

Yesterday was not an awesome day. Having a burst water pipe tends to bring the suck into a day. Having a plumber come over the following day, and leave you with a nice big bill that will need to be paid for on credit, kind of adds a little more suck onto the pile.

I’m done with suck, and even if it takes sheer force of will, I will make myself see the awesome. And so here is a List of Awesome. We all need one from time to time.

My two-year-old daughter demanded that I turn off Cinderella this morning, in favour of the Cars movie. Her ability to decipher the better movie filled this cinemaphile mama with pride.
After a few very rough starts and a scratched window (thanks to a thrown controller), my four-year-old son finally managed to figure out how to bowl on the Wii. This is the first game that he’s managed to figure out all on his own. I can sense hours of video gaming ahead (and hopefully no more scratched windows).
The super soft fur behind a cat’s ear. It’s the perfect texture to stroke when I’m feeling a bit out of sorts.
Ibruprofen. Without it, I’d hate to imagine life.
Actually, I could list dozens of medications which I think are awesome, so lets just say that all medication is the bomb-diggety.
Meatballs and bacon. Not necessarily together, but no matter how much other “bad” food I give up, I will always love a piece of bacon or a zesty meatball.
Books. Who could live without books? I know I couldn’t. (As luck has it, I happen to have a giveaway that is open Worldwide, for a copy of a great book over at A Lot of Loves Reviews.)
The BBC series Sherlock (currently playing on PBS in North America). Have you seen this yet? It is hands down one of The Best new shows I’ve seen in ages. And believe me when I tell you that I am picky when it comes to TV.
Kisses and hugs and sweet “I love you, Mama” murmurings.
Kids that drift off to sleep without the need for repeated bedtime visits.

What’s on your List of Awesome?

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STEALING MAKES YOUR MAMA SAD. DON’T DO IT. © Marilyn for A Lot of Loves, 2010. |
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Emergencies Always Happen on a Sunday

November 15th, 2010

My husband does not like it when I leave him alone with the kids. This is a fact. And it’s also a fact that 9 out of the 10 times that I have gone out of the house and left him alone with the kids, he will call me to find out why I’m not home yet. I have some opinions about this, but that’s for another day.

The reason that it’s important to know that my husband always calls to find out when I’m coming home is because I was out today, alone. I was at a wire wrap jewelry-making class and had told my husband that I thought I might be home shortly after 3:30pm. At 3:50pm I received a phone call from him, but since I was talking to someone at the time, and since he always calls, and since I thought he should be able to manage the kids for another 15 minutes, I let the call go to voicemail.

When I stopped talking to that person, and I retrieved the voice mail, I was treated to a the sound of a stressed out husband asking that I come home right away because a water pipe had burst and he wanted the kids out of his hair while he tried to deal with that. It appears that my Boy Who Cried Wolf Husband, actually had a Real Deal Emergency on his hands.

I drove home, envisioning collapsed walls with water flying everywhere, while sopping-wet children cried, and my husband valiantly tried to stop the flow of water. What greeted me was a burst water pipe just outside of our house, that was indeed making the water fly everywhere and had created a two-foot-deep water-filled hole in the ground from the pressure of the water exiting the pipe. It was lots and lots and lots of water, and it was a problem, but at least it wasn’t inside the house. My husband was frustrated because shutting off the main water valve from our house hadn’t stopped the water from flowing. My son was reverberating with excitement and bouncing off the walls with glee over watching the grown-ups panic.

Thankfully the City has a 24-hour emergency line and they were able to send someone over to shut off the water from the main line on the street. Unfortunately, they couldn’t find the main line. No one could find the main line. They discussed chopping down the entire 10-foot-tall cedar hedge that lines the front of our property to find the main line. In a bid to save the cedar hedge, my husband started to dig in random spots in the front yard.

And time passed.

I filled buckets with water in anticipation of having no water.

Lots and lots of buckets.

Eventually, just as the hedge row was about to get the chop, my husband found the valve to the main line from the street. And all was wonderful.

Except that we have no water.

And we have to pay a plumber in the morning.

STEALING MAKES YOUR MAMA SAD. DON’T DO IT. © Marilyn for A Lot of Loves, 2010. |
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Scary Dragon: Wednesday of Few Words

November 10th, 2010

Up until a few months ago, the kids weren’t too interested in watching any show that was longer than 30 minutes in length. On the rare occasion that I would put on a movie for them to watch, they would invariably watch for a short while and then wander away to continue their mischief-seeking ways.

Shortly before our trip to Disneyland, I decided that the kids should be exposed to some of the characters that they would be hanging with. And they were hooked. The kids now frequently ask (beg) to watch a movie. Instead of me trying to get them to sit down for a few minutes so I can get something done, I am now forced to make sure they aren’t being turned into TV automatons.

My two-year-old daughter, Em, found my old stash of Disney Princess video tapes and fell madly in love with the pictures on the covers. My son was willing to watch Sleeping Beauty once I told him that there was an evil fairy who becomes a dragon. It seemed like the best of both worlds – pretty princess, nasty fire-breathing dragon.

The kids were fine with the show, right up until the dragon started kicking it up a notch. Then the concern set in.