Birthday Buns and Pizza Pies

For some reason, D and her little 2 year old friends have decided that it's "birthday week" around here. Huh?! None of them are turning 3 until late next year - but I guess you can't argue with a toddler's logic! At daycare, we sang Happy Birthday and did a "birthday dance" - I don't know what that is exactly, but we did one. After the kids had all gone home and it was supper time, I made the mistake of asking D what she'd like for supper.

Clearly, not thinking.

D looked at me like it was the most ridiculous question she'd ever heard. What's a birthday without cake, right? ...Ugh. So, I told D that we didn't have any birthday cake right now, but if she'd like I could give her some "birthday buns" instead. I fully expected a complete meltdown, but was pleasantly surprised when she enthusiastically agreed that birthday buns would be the perfect supper.

Cool.

Now I just had to figure out what, exactly, a birthday bun consists of.  It had to be sweet, and decorated.  I toasted a sliced English muffin, topped it with butter and honey, and then put a heart shaped slice of cheese on each half. I gave it to D on her Barbie Princess plate and served her some apple juice in a big-girl-cup.

Worked like a charm! D ate ALL of it, and I patted myself on the back for a job well done and a temper tantrum avoided. I think even DH was impressed, lol. So the next time your kid asks for something from the no-no list for dinner, just serve up a little (and I mean really, very little) creativity instead. ;)

For further, and perhaps slightly more inspiring ideas, check out this recipe for English Muffin Pizzas over at Canadian Living.  They're such a hit with kids of all ages, and you can make them look cute in all sorts of ways too!  

This Holiday Season

With just a few days to go until Christmas, there are a million things going through my mind:

1. I've been trying to relax about the daycare as I do have a space I need to fill - not a big deal, there is a lot of interest. It's just the interviews I find exhausting, as it's not easy having tons of people I don't know coming through my home every day or two. It's not like going to a job interview, or showing people around a full sized center - this is where my family lives, so to carry on this way and constantly be breaking the daycare kids (and D's) routine is not a good time for any of us.

2. I miss my twins. When we went for Santa pictures with D, there was a couple in front of us with newborn twins, and their older sister about the same age as Danica. It really took all the strength I could possibly muster not to just cry, right there, in the mall in front of everyone. I wanted to do those pictures this year.  Most of the time, these days, I can handle seeing little ones, and seeing twins will even make me smile.  Rather than feeling sad, most of the time, I am happy for the parents that their children are healthy, that they made it.  This time it was just different.  I'm still thinking about it - because of how I pictured the holidays would be this year.  Because of how they're not.

3. 2010 was a brutal kind of year, and I am welcoming 2011 with open arms.  In light of that, I feel like my blog needs a makeover.  It has become something that I am not - a little too cheesy, a little less interesting, and a little more "sold out" than I'd ever intended.  I love doing reviews and giveaways, but I feel like I'm losing interest in writing personal entries in the blog.  The blog itself seems to have taken on a life of its own.  This begs the question, do I create another blog altogether for personal stuff, or do I keep them together and just give this blog a look I'm more comfortable with?  I'll be thinking about it over the coming holidays and in the New Year will be doing things differently, no matter what I decide.

4. Things are not all bad. :)  Now that D is 2, she is so jacked about the holidays I am having to remind her each day that Christmas is not for another x-number of sleeps.  It's great!  She's talking about Santa and presents, and since I've introduced her to the true story of Christmas she's been talking about the baby Jesus and his Mommy a lot too.  I've explained that Christmas is a birthday party for the baby Jesus.  Now, of course, she's convinced there will be a birthday cake.  Not sure how to skirt around this problem, as I don't have a cake mix in the house and I really, really don't have time to bake a cake from scratch.  I'd love to just avoid the issue, but D is not that kind of kid... She remembers stuff and will bring it up at the most random time.  Humm.  Birthday cookies, anyone?  (Filing this one away for next year, to be better prepared!)

So I'll leave it at that.  I've got to get on a whole bunch of Christmasy stuff now, like baking a dulce de leche chocolate almond skor crunch cheesecake for Saturday night, and wrapping presents for my daycare kids and for D.  Happy Holidays to all of you, and may your New Year bring health, happiness and peace.

XO,            

Then Sings My Soul - Book Review

With Christmas just around the corner, I often get to thinking about our family traditions while I was growing up.  Each Christmas Eve we would go to church for the candle light service, and listen to the choir sing the same hymns as the year before.  It was comforting to know that no matter what had happened over the course of the year - Christmas Eve would always remain the same.  I imagine that many people in history, and today, can relate to this on all of the Christian holidays.  Then Sings My Soul is a collection of 150 hymns, stories about them, where they originated and what they're really all about.   

Then Sings My Soul - Special Edition - by Robert J. Morgan
Stories of the most favorite and beloved seasonal hymns of faith.
Don't look for a dry recounting of boring historical fact, the devotional-style stories in Then Sings My Soul show the emotion and drama behind the hymns of faith that have changed many lives throughout history. Designed to be personally reflective, these stories speak to the soul and add depth to a meaningful worship time with God through song.  Recounted are stories of the people whose faith led them to write these wonderful seasonal hymns and the people whose faith was affected by reading, hearing, and singing the songs.

 My Review
I've always had an interest in music of all varieties - from punk to rap to country and everything in between - I'll listen to it and find something to love about it.  What makes a song excellent, for me at least, is the lyrics.  If the melody is there but the lyrics are uninteresting, I usually can not be sold on it.  What this book does, is give the story behind the lyrics of many beautiful, well known hymns.  I was not sure what to expect, but when I cracked the book open I found myself turning the pages wanting to find out more.  It's lovely to have the ability to look up your favorite Christmas carols, or hymns from your childhood and find out more about the song, about the person who wrote the song, or just a story that will really make you reflect upon your own faith or life itself.  This book would make a wonderful gift for anyone who treasures Christian music, faithful church goers who love the power of prayer and song. 
  
*A copy of Then Sings My Soul was given to me via the Booksneeze blogger program, for review purposes.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own.*

'Scuse Me, Can't You See Santa And I Are TALKING?!

I'm a little embarrassed to say this, but this year will mark D's third Christmas and up until just recently she had never been to see Santa!  We didn't do the newborn picture thing - D was 3 months old on her first Christmas, but that year was unbelievably hectic.  My Dad was very sick, so he was constantly back and forth between home and the hospital.  Whatever free time I had, when my husband was at work, I would spend with my Dad (especially when he was home) so that he could get to know D.  I remember doing ALL of my Christmas shopping in one evening, with D in her carseat/stroller and literally more shopping bags than I could handle.  The thought had crossed my mind to take her that day for the picture, but I just wasn't up for standing and waiting in line, or making D stay out longer than she should have to at just 3 months old. 

On D's second Christmas, I found out I was pregnant so we were a little caught up in sharing the news with everyone!  In addition to that, D was going through some major separation anxiety/making strange and I knew that if we were to sit her on Santa's lap she would have an absolute meltdown.  Not the "cute" kind of meltdown, either.  There were times when she wouldn't even go to her Daddy!!  So, last year was a write off.

This year, however, I was DETERMINED to make the Santa pic happen!  D has been talking about Santa for months already - from the time the first Christmas ads came on TV and the first flyers started arriving in our mailbox.  At some point before Halloween, she even decided that she'd like to pay Santa's house a visit!  (This resulted in a temper tantrum to end all tantrums when I told her that we were not able to go.)  So far, she has told me she'd like Santa to bring her crayons, and a dragon.  Why a dragon, you ask?  Well, I have yet to figure that one out.... But my kid is a character, so nothing really surprises me!

This past weekend seemed like the perfect opportunity to hit the mall and visit the Big Guy in Red.  My husband had a day off on Sunday - so we got D all dolled up on Sunday afternoon and off we went.  I knew the line up would be insane - and it really was - but I didn't care!  Thankfully, it was moving quickly enough that (with a couple of cookie bribes) D was happy to wait.  She made friends with the little girl in line ahead of us, and all was well.  I was really expecting the worst - I kept coaching D on what was going to happen "Santa will say hi, and he'll ask if you want to sit on his lap!  And if you DO sit on his lap, he'll give you a treat!!"  ........ DH went out of his way at this point to ask me to LISTEN to what I was actually telling her, and was that something I really wanted her to learn?  Well, no... maybe not, but in the interest of not waiting in line for nothing, I didn't care, LOL.  D is not the kind of kid who would just sit and cry in a picture - no - if she did not want to be there, with Santa, at that exact moment then she would NOT be there at all.  She'd literally fight to the death.  So, I figured a little coaching was fair game!!!

It turned out the little chat that D and I had was completely worth it.  She marched right on up to Santa, and in her best big girl voice said "HI!!!!"  When he asked if she wanted to sit with him, she said "Uhh...Yeah!  I DO!!!"  .... Sweet!  At this point I bolted out of the way, so the photogs could snap a pic before she changed her mind.  However, they let D take her time with the big guy, so the two of them had quite the talk!  I can only guess what she might have been saying to him.  "A dragon... a crayons....a baby...!"

The picture turned out AWESOME - D didn't really smile, but that's because she was confused as to what the heck the photographer wanted - after all, she was in the middle of what must have been a very important conversation with Santa Clause! lol. So without further ado... Here is D's Santa Pic, 2010: 

Blooming Buddies In The Garden: Book Review

D is one of those very girlie little girls who loves all things pretty - faeries, flowers, princesses and pink.  When given the opportunity to review Blooming Buddies In The Garden, A Book of Blooming Verse; I knew immediately that D would fall in love with the brightly colored pages, the beautiful flowers and the pretty poetry.  My 2 year old, apparently, has a thing for poetry.  (She really is a lot like her Mommy in some ways!)

Written by Wendy Peterson and Illustrated by Deborah Donner, this book appeals to the imagination of children and grownups alike.  Each page is illustrated with beautiful watercolor paintings of flowers in bloom, and alongside each painting is a verse that will spark conversation, encourage positivity, love and respect for others. Blooming Buddies has been given the Parent Tested Parent Approved Award for 2011, as well as the National Parenting Center: Seal of Approval for 2011!
   

When I read the book to D, she was quick to point out all of the pretty flowers and the bright colors.  She loved the verses, and she asked me to read the book to her again once I was finished.  I particularly enjoyed the positive messages in each poem and the way the flowers in each illustration really seemed to take on their own personalities.  Between the covers of this book are pages and pages of virtual Spring time, which is so lovely at this time of year!  Blooming Buddies In the Garden would make a wonderful gift for any little girl on your Christmas list.

To buy a copy of Blooming Buddies In The Garden ($16.95) visit www.bloomingbuddies.com/books

To buy the special Holiday Gift Pack ($31.95) including:

• Blooming Buddies In The Garden: A Book of Blooming Verse
• 30 Stickers
• One Studio Print (Your choice of Purple Sky/Lucky Star/Wonder)

Go to http://bloomingbuddies.com/holiday-special

HGGH Winners

I've been down with a nasty flu these last few days, so I haven't done much blogging, but don't worry - I haven't forgotten to choose my winners for the Holiday Gift Giveaway Hop!

Winner - Giveaway #1 - $35 CSN Stores

Our Little Group on December 3, 2010 11:20 AM said...

I subscribe via email couponinggirl at gmail dot com

Winner - Giveaway #2 - $25 Jasmere

Gina on December 4, 2010 2:33 PM said...

follow on twitter @schoune

Congratulations!  Both winners will be emailed shortly.  Enjoy your prizes. :)

Holiday Gift Giveaway Hop

It's Holiday Gift Giveaway Hop time! Am I excited? You bet! I've got a couple of wonderful gift codes up for grabs if you live in Canada or the United States. So let's get started, shall we???

Giveaway #1: CSN Stores (Canada/US)

Most of you are familiar with CSN Stores - they're a group of 200+ online retailers, selling everything and anything you can imagine. Need some new clothes? Or maybe there's a new baby in the family? You'll find everything you need at CSN Stores! And hey, guess what? CSN Stores is offering one of my readers a $35.00 gift code to do some holiday shopping. :)

Giveaway #2:  Jasmere (US)








Jasmere seeks out lesser-known specialty retailers that deserve national attention and offers them at discounted prices.  Here's how it works - When you make an order, you are guaranteed in on that days offer, but your credit card is not yet charged.  The more people who purchase an item, the lower the price becomes.  Sounds like a good deal, right?  That's because it is!  Each sale lasts for only 24 hours, and then a new item gets put up for grabs.  And lucky for you, Jasmere is offering a giveaway of $25.00 to one of my readers.

How To Enter  

Mandatory Entry (leave one comment) - There's nothing I love more than new followers!  Follow Born 2 Be Mom on GFC to enter, and leave a comment letting me know if you're in Canada or the US.


Bonus Entries (comment 1x for each)  - 
1. "Like" Born 2 Be Mom on Facebook
2. Follow @Born2BeMom on Twitter
3. Subscriber to Born 2 Be Mom via Email


*Contest Closes on December 5th, 2010.  Two winners will be drawn - one per giveaway.  Please make sure to leave your email address if it's not attached to your profile.  Entries which do not follow set guidelines will be disqualified.  Good luck!*