Activities in Calgary this weekend...

Looking for something fun to do this weekend?

Aggie Days is running at the Calgary BMO Center. Enjoy interactive agriculture activities including cow milking, sheep shearing, farm animals, book corner, corn maze and more! There is also a free pancake breakfast served to the first 1000 people on Saturday and Sunday. You can find more details here.

DO SMELL LEARN GROW
Spruce Meadows has the Calgary Horticultural Society Garden Show. There are a tonne of fun things to see and do including planting a crafts for the little ones. I am not exactly a green thumb but I LOVE gardening. Hopefully I can make it out on Sunday and learn a few more tips and tricks. You can check out the website for the event here.
Note: Parking at Spruce Meadows is free.

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.