Things I Love Fridays...

Prairie Girl Couture is not only a local Alberta designer but Christina also makes beautiful clothes. With a wide range of sizes (including custom orders) you are sure to find something to fit from this line. Her latest project is this ruffled trench...I just may be splurging for a new coat. I am thinking this coat in cloud would be an absolute asset to my wardrobe...love

You can follow Prairie Girl Couture on facebook here, the blog here, and the etsy store is here

Even More Awesome

How have I not heard of these books???

Have any of you read them?

From the author of the #1 International Bestseller "The Book of Awesome" and the award-winning, multimillion-hit website 1000awesomethings.com comes... EVEN MORE of the little things that make us smile every day! Neil Pasricha is back with a collection of hundreds more awesome things that deserve celebration including: Coming back to your own bed after a long trip Sneaking cheaper candy into the movie theater Stepping on dry crunchy leaves on the sidewalk Letting go of the gas pump perfectly so you end on a round number When a baby falls asleep on you Finally peeing after holding it forever Pulling a weed and getting all the roots with it Seeing old people holding hands When your pet notices you're in a bad mood and comes to see you When your windshield wipers match the beat of the song you're listening to The smooth feeling on your teeth after you get your braces off When the hiccups stop Driving from a rough road onto a smooth one Puppy breath When the houseguest leaves When the person you're meeting is even later than you are Getting the keys to your first apartment There's even space for you to write your very own Awesome Things in the back. Because couldn't we all use (even more) AWESOME!? (taken from chapters.indigo.ca)

What is your awesome?

My latest is when Evelyn gets up in the morning, gets me up and then goes back to bed so I can come wake her up.

Feed Your Soul...the free art project

Simple click on the images found here to download them into a PDF then print off and frame...how fun!

The above are some of my personal faves from the site...I am thinking I will print them off and put them up in my ensuite bathroom. Will post pics when this latest project gets accomplished.

Hello Martha

On the weekend we had some friends over for supper. I was super impressed with how my organic Hutterite chicken came out. Just in case you were wondering those are turnips and carrots in the bottom of the roaster. I did the chicken with red wine (Merlot), lemon, rosemary, garlic, onion and salt and pepper.

It was delish if I do say so myself.

10 on Tuesday...for all the pregnant girls out there!

This post is dedicated to all my friends who are due, overdue, or about to have a baby in the very near future...10 old wives tales to induce labour...

1. Cod liver oil
There are reports of castor oil being used to bring on labour as far back as the Egyptians, though how it works is poorly understood. The most commonly given explanation is that it acts as a powerful laxative, and when it stimulates the gut it also stimulates the uterus and so "kick starts" labour.

2. Blowing Up Balloons
The build up of abdominal pressure encourages labour to start.

3. Eating Pineapple
Pineapple contains the enzyme bromelain which is thought to help to soften the cervix

4. Spicy Food
Spicy food is often suggested as a means of bringing on labour. There are no scientific theories relating to this, but it may be that it stimulates the gut and bowel and so encourages the uterus to get going by that means.

5. Acupuncture
Acupuncture involves putting very small needles into specific points of the body. According to traditional Chinese philosophy, this stimulates the energy within the body to restore balance and boost healing.

6. Red Raspberry Leaf
Raspberry leaf can be taken as a tea or in tablet form.

7. Walking
Being upright gets the forces of gravity working for you, encouraging the baby to move down onto the cervix.

8. Sex
Sex is thought to work in three ways: first the movement may help to stimulate the uterus into action; secondly, sex can trigger the release of oxytocin, the 'contraction' hormone; thirdly, semen contains a high concentration of prostaglandins which help to soften the womb.

9. Fancy Underwear
Wear your best underwear (Murphy's law will ensure that your waters break in them).

10. Jump On A Trampoline
This is my personal favorite as it is what I attribute to my water breaking. We have a small one in our playroom that any of you are more than welcome to come and use. :)

All of the above are simply wives tales and not exactly guaranteed to work but I would appreciate it if all my preggers friends out there would utilize all of the above methods until their babies are born so that I have some new little ones to snuggle and love on!

Things I Love Fridays...

Sarah Richardson: Interior designer, television hostess and textile goddess created this amazing nursery for her new design show "Sarah 101". I am ever impressed by Sarah's ability to mix fabrics and make the most basic of pieces look beautiful, fresh and modern while always still having a bit of a classic vibe. I mean seriously, this nursery was inspired by a paisley wallpaper that they put on the ceiling! Sarah, if you ever read this...would you please come decorate my home!

Anyone wanting to check out more of Sarah Richardson's amazing work check out her website here.

10 on Tuesday...

My 10 favorite books to read with Evalicious...

In no particular order:

1. "Paperbag Princess" by Robert Munsch

2. "Where the Wild Things Are" by Maurice Sendak

3. "The Giving Tree" by Shel Silverstein

4. "Love You Forever" by Robert Munsch

5. "Fancy Nancy" by Jane O'Connor

6. "Oh The Thinks You Can Think" by Dr. Seuss

7. "On The Night You Were Born" by Nancy Tillman

8. "Moo Baa La La La" By Sandra Boynton

9. "We're Going On A Bear Hunt" by Michael Rosen

10. "Baby Bible Stories"

Ev loves to read. At night long after we have put her to bed we hear her continue to read to herself by the faint light of her nightlight. Some of the books on my list have a significant meaning (I can still hear my Mom singing "We're going on a bear hunt"), others are just plain fun; who doesn't like making animal sounds and rhyming Dr Seuss style...either way, these are all books Ev loves and book we love to read.

I have a great book to recommend to all the Mommies of girls out there. It is called "Cinderella Ate My Daughter" by Peggy Orenstein

Us Moms have a lot to worry about when raising our daughters; self image, eating disorders and a culture that teaches women that their worth is valued as much, if not higher, if they are beautiful over brainy. Shocking, I know, because I would think in today's forward thinking society we would place a lot more value of being brainy and witty over being beautiful. In this book Orenstein documents her struggle to "raise the ideal daughter". One who is happy, confident and not obsessed with tutus, tiaras and pink chiffon and the ultra feminine messages that come with all of the above.

While I have only read reviews so far on this book I feel like I can still recommend it. I have read books in the past by this particular author and have enjoyed her style and wit. I look forward to reading more about what Orenstein has to stay on a subject I feel is a consistent struggle.

One of the best quotes I read regarding this book is "Orenstein is the first to admit she’s not a perfect parent. But her advice to others is to pride yourself on saying no... Being a princess may seem simple. But raising one takes a whole lot of brains." Jessica Bennett, Newsweek