Balance

Lately there has been a lot of talk about BALANCE. In our networking groups, on facebook and on blogs. Go ahead, Google "finding balance" and see the thousands of links, self help books and seminars you can take to "find balance"

Mothers seem to strive for this more than anyone else. We are always trying to balance our lives, whether we are working moms, stay at home moms, step moms and especially if you are a mom entrepreneur who works from home.

Kelly, mortgage mummi thinks it is B^llS&!t! Ha ha
Another blog post about the same thing titled lower your standards!



This has got me thinking... why are we searching for balance?
I think we should strive for HARMONY.



If you are striving for Balance, it means you are static, not moving. It also means to me, that it all could come crashing down with one wrong move.

If we look for harmony in our lives, it means that our lives are fluid, are filled with music and have plenty of opportunities for dancing!

It might mean that some days we are "out of tune" but even out of tune, it is still music and you can still dance!

It means that your life is ever changing and moving, and as I think it should be.

So stop googling "work life balance" and go find some music to dance to!

Wild West Craft Party

It was a week filled with sickness it seamed for the momstown moms in Central Alberta! Hopefully this means that sickness will not stick around for the holidays! Because of this we had a smaller turnout at our monthly craft party, but we still had fun!!

We of course had our craft time, making a horse tracing the kids foot and forearms! I love these types of crafts as we can see just how little our kids were, and really who doesn't like having their foot traced?



We also had our story time, and well I hope someone heard me read it! ha ha

You see I have our monthly story books delivered ahead of time to our house, and my toddler loves to "test drive" the books before our monthly events...

This month's Story "Are you a Horse" by Andy Rash, happens to be her ultimate favourite!! (Here is a great recap about the book) As I sat in my chair, handed over a crying baby to another mom, toddler comes over and wants to "read read" the book herself, there is no way mom will read it!! So guess what happens next? ha ha if you have been reading this blog, or attended this event, you know!! ha ha Crying and a great tempter tantrum!!



I did manage to read the story, and the kids were listening, and in the end momstown mom Bradley won the book, which we all asked her to HIDE so that toddler did not see that it was gone!

No need to worry about toddler losing her favorite book, we have our own copy at home! ha ha

Public Temper Tantrums

This evening in Red Deer the Red Deer's Biggest Christmas Tree Festival and Christmas Parade, was held. For the past two years it has been cancelled because it was -25, but this year we have had a Chinook wind blow in, and the temperature was right, so, I promised my oldest that we would do downtown to see the festivities. Oldest had seen Toronto's Santa Claus Parade on television on the weekend, so I had to keep reminding her that this was not in the same league! ha ha but she was very much looking forward to it nonetheless.

I checked the website and saw that events started at 6pm, and we arrived downtown at about 5:50, found a good spot and waited.

I have blogged about my toddler before, and her public temper tantrums, and yes this is the same theme! She is almost 21 months old, and temper tantrums are par for the course. So she didn't have as much patience as the rest of us, in waiting for the parade to start. She wanted DOWN, which wasn't going to happen on the parade route downtown, as she is a runner! So she started to cry, and scream, and have a temper tantrum. I am used to these now, and I just wait them out, knowing that when the parade starts all will be forgotten.

While we were waiting, and while toddler DD was crying, a mother daughter "team" started to make comments, loudly about my crying daughter. Not the consoling kind of "oh we have been there" but the accusatory kind, saying things like "I need earplugs" "this is ridiculous, why do we have to be subjected to this" and she has snot all over her face". They were less than 3 feet from me, so they knew I could hear them!

I couldn't hold my thoughts in any longer, so I asked them had they never had a screaming child before? I also asked them to give me a break, and where was their Christmas Spirit? I also reminded them that it was a SANTA CLAUS PARADE and that kids were present!! I also stated that my oldest had been so excited about this event and I didn't think it was fair to her to haul everyone back to the car.

I still cannot believe people were so ignorant at an outdoor event for children, about a toddler crying. I can understand if we were in a movie theatre and we were ruining a movie for others, or at a restaurant, but at the Santa Claus Parade? What are your thoughts? What would you have done? Has this ever happened to you?

Moms Night Out at The Bra Lounge

The momstown moms had 2 night out at the bra lounge, as we had such a great response to this event, we all couldn't go on one night!

Sheena and Cortney treated us with Wine and Cheese, 25% off our purchase and an awesome shopping experience!

I think we all left with a new purchase and we want to be back!

Keep a look out to our next moms night out!

Disposable mom at the half way point

So this disposable turned cloth diapering mom is half way through her month long experiment, and I have a confession to make.... I cheated.

Yup, since I took baby DD with me to Toronto for the momstown conference, I brought disposable diapers, as I am not yet experienced enough to travel with cloth diapers. It was a good thing too, as my bag was packed full, with 3 carry on bags on the way home from all the goodies the sponsors loaded us up with!!

But want to know what else happened? Her yeast diaper rash came back... hmmm is it from the disposables? I think it might be but who knows. What I do know is that it was almost cleared up when we left.

So 2 weeks to go, and then I have to come to a decision.

Am I still a disposable mom?

A Fun Morning at the Red Deer Museum & Art Gallery

Some of the momstown moms ventured out into the cold for a morning of crafts, art and learning at the Red Deer Museum and Art Gallery.

The kids were fascinated with the coy fish in the front entrance, and I think a few of them would have been happy to just stay there! But they would have missed all the crafty fun!
We were then led to the craft room where our instructor Tanya (not me) taught the kids about colors, shapes and how to make pictures from them.



Then we got to try out the magic crayons that turned into Paint when water was added to them!



Then it was off to the small but great play area that museum has. The kids loved it there as well!
We will be back!

Amazing momstown national conference

This past weekend, I was fortunate enough to attend my first momstown conference. All I can say is that I am so glad I went! I learnt so much, connected with the whole momstown team, and came home with lots of new ideas, new passion and lots of excitement!!

We worked on our brand, we tasted some wine (thanks Chateau des Charmes!) worked on out sites, and really connected with each other.

Being a new momstown mama, working with my peers, was an invigorating time of networking and learning. We were also spoiled by so many sponsors. Thank you to

@GMCanada / #ChevyOrlando
@SummerFresh
@BabyDdrops
@ChaptersIndigo
@PurdysChocolate
@LifeChoicesFood
@MySecondCup
@Shatobu
@Welldotca
@PlaytexBaby
#VaselineMen
#Kelloggs
@ToshibaCanada
@Jan_Kelley
@padtitude
@AlisonIPR
@KristaK01
@MaryFearon
@mbosc
@Williams_Fresh

After all of the work, we had some fun on Monday! First stop was kidscbc! and if you haven't seen the awesome video they created for us, go now! I'll wait. You have to see it! I know I am a bit biased, but it made all of is momstown mamas both laugh and cry!

Then it was off to the Steven and Chris show, and here is another awesome video of some momstown mams trying to in a prize.

Last stop of the day was a meeting at Fisher Price, where we were able to learn about our new partnership, play with some toys, and of course behave like the kids we really are at heart.
The trip was jam packed with information and things t do and learn, but it was also a great time, that didn't feel like work.

I am very much looking forward to the next conference in May.

Left Over Halloween Candy

Do you have any Candy Left? Eaten it all?

Halloween Candy has been in our house for almost 2 weeks, and I am ready for it to be gone, as I an indulging too much!! Like Jo from Jo Dumont Fitness Training calls them the mini chocolate bars from hell! lol

I have heard of the switch witch, and the Halloween fairy, who takes most or all of the candy away, but that would never fly (get it? ha ha) in our house. As I have mentioned before, momstown Papa Paul is from Zimbabwe, so food is not wasted, nor is it thrown out! Expiry dates are not adhered to, the nose and taste buds rule (unless it is already blue).

My favorite story, and I like to tell it often, is when I found a package of the chocolate covered cherries in our pantry, expiry date of 2006, in 2009!! I tried to throw them out, but no way!! "sugar doesn't go off Tanya!" So they were eaten!! I told him if he was sick, no sympathy from me, but he proved me wrong!

So What do we do? On Halloween night, I sort the candy, and take out the best gingerbread decorating candy out and that is stored away for the decorating closer to Christmas. But don't worry momstown Papa Paul ensures that gets eaten as well!!

What do you do?
Another momstown mama makes jewelry out of the candy.
Does the Halloween Fairy Visit your house?

Ever have one of those days?

Today is one of those days for me!

We woke up great, quizzed oldest for her science test she has today, had breakfast, got the 2 youngest dressed, and it wasn't even 9:15! We were on a roll!!

Then I tried to print and send off my waiver to drive the Chevy Orlando at the momstown conference this weekend... printer won't work. So off we go to my parents to borrow their printer/scanner, and I cannot get their scanner to work either... and we have to leave as we promised Oldest DD that we would be at the school for the Remembrance Day Celebration, as she had a reading part.

We get to the school just in time, find our seats, and the celebration begins, Oldest read beautifully, by the way and then it was time for the bugle and the minute of silence... Have I mentioned I have a 20 month old? She was not interested in sitting quietly, so I took her our of her stroller (do you see where this is going... ha ha) to sit in my lap, nope not interested in that, she wants DOWN (loudly) so I get her to stand holding my hand... when she decides to make a break for it, runs down the aisle of students and grabs the nearest pylon!!

So do I leave her (the minute of silence and respect remember?) or let her just be... I made the split second decision to grab her, and the tantrum begins, so out of the gymnasium we go to try to get her settled down.

By the way I left littlest in her stroller with the other moms, as she WAS sleeping, but as soon as we exited the gym, she starts to cry, so I run in grab her and the three of us wait in the hallway until there is no more crying. This continues until the end of the celebration, once the kids start filing out of the gym, toddler DD is quiet, of course!!

So we go back in, tell Oldest what a great job she did, and head back to my parents to try again to get the waiver sent, (got it this time, whew) as I really want to drive the Orlando, and Grandma makes us lunch! Yay!

We are now finally home, both girls are napping, and I walk by a mirror and ask myself what is in my hair??... baby puke!!! Awesome. I wonder how long that has been there. I would put money on since about 9:15 this morning...

How is your day going?

Remembrance day with kids

How do you talk about all the poppies on all the coats this time of year with your kids?

I know my oldest has been asking every year since she could talk why everyone wears the red flowers on their coat. Even this year, as an 8 year old she asks again, seeming to forget year after year (Here is a great craft to do with your kids while having a conversation about why November 11th is a day we recognize.).

Remembrance Day for me is all about my Grandfather and my great Uncle. My Grandfather passed away last year, he was a World War II vet, who fought mostly in Italy. As a kid he always teased us by speaking Italian, and I was always so curious as to why he knew this language, we have no Italian ancestry! He almost never spoke of the war, only speaking of his time on leave in England where he met my grandmother, and of course the little bit of Italian he learned and teased his grand kids with.

When I was fresh out of University and exploring Europe, I went to the Canadian War Memorial in France, and looked at all the names on the wall, looking for a name from my Family. I was surprised to find the name of my Grandfather, thinking it was quite the coincidence, but knowing it wasn't him, as this memorial is from World War I.

I met up with him soon after, and he explained that that was my great Uncle, and that he was named after him. This began an almost two decade long conversation between my grandfather and I about those years, he also started to finally tell his story, taping his story on cassettes.

He passed away last year at the age of 90, and we have his dress uniform jacket from the war, and I treasure it. I also am so grateful that he made those tapes. When I visit my parents, I see his medals that have been framed and hung up on the wall.

There are very few WWII vets left, but when I see them at the Remembrance Day ceremonies, I think of my grandfather. This is the story I tell my daughters, and I will have their great grandfathers first hand account of his experience of war.

Can this Disposable Mom be Converted to Cloth?

This is a question posed to me by Brie from Green Bottoms Diaper Service.

I don't know if I can. Laundry is my least favorite thing to do!!
Paul, momstown papa, has been trying for years to convince me to use cloth... and now I have run out of excuses not to try, since Brie's company picks up the dirty diapers and delivers nice clean ones!!!

So we decided I would try her service, and cloth diapers out for the month of November. I went to Brie's for a quick lesson and to pick up my first batch. It all looks quite easy, but to be honest I was really nervous! She convinced me I would be fine and off I went.

It did take a few tries to get the fit right on Ciara, as she kept leaking through, but Brie was available to ask questions and she suggested a few things, and now I think we have it!

I will update this again to see how it is going, and also to recap the lesson that momtown papa needs to make sure he does it right too!!

October Winners

Well October and Halloween have come and gone, and I for one am so happy that the snow held off on Halloween night, as it seemed to threaten to make it a cold night!

With the start of a new month we have some momstown winners to announce.
Carrie won a copy of our October book Story County.
We had 3 winners at our Halloween Contest
Tina won funniest Costume as Jelly Beans Costume
Angie won scariest Costume as a Sparkly Skeleton, and the kids weren't scared!!
Shayla won Best Costume for her paper bag princess Costume

Kim was the big winner of our monthly contest that had all our members wanting to win! Kim won a gift certificate to spend at Jo Dumont Fitness Training valued at $250.

What is JDFT?

Jo Dumont Fitness Training is Red Deer’s (non)gym! No attitudes, no egos, no judgement. Undertaking a life journey to change your health and your life requires support. LOTS of support. JDFT understands that, they’ve been there. They’ve been that girl in the corner uncomfortably pulling at her shirt, or that guy that only goes at 10pm so he can be alone in the gym. They’ve been there and they’ll help you get out of there. Kids are always welcome - always."

The prize is a gift certificate that can be used towards any of JDFT's services. Day camps, membership, personal training, nutrition classes, Shred Fitness Camp, punch cards. No catch, no further investment. It is what is it is. Just like JDFT.

We have another fabulous contest for November, so remember to enter daily for your chance to win a photography package valued at $749.99 from First Blush Photography!! Check her out on facebook and twitter @firstblush!