Musical Monday: Sarah McLachlan - Blackbird

I had forgotten how much I liked this song.

Until the other day when I heard it for the first time in what must be years.

I haven't been able to stop singing it since then!

Craft Hope

I bought this book a few days ago.

I didn't look through it as thoroughly as I do most books, but I decided that it was a must have. It's filled with loads of craft ideas and had this little green sticker on the front saying "$1 from the sale of this book will be donated to Global Impact" which made me feel a certain justification in buying the book.

When I sat down to finally read the introduction to the book and all the projects, I was thrilled with my somewhat carelessness in purchasing the book.

You see Craft Hope is an organization that encourages crafters to help others by creating goods and packaging/sending them on to those that may need some help. The first project Craft Hope undertook was pillowcase dresses that were sent to a children's shelter in Mexico. The second project was soft cloth dolls for an orphanage in Nicaragua.

I had troubles getting through the introduction to the book without bursting into tears as I was so moved and inspired by Jade Sims and was simply itching to get involved!

I love the idea that I can get the boys involved with this as well! Although they may be too young to actually sew or make some of the items, they can help me package them and assemble kits and learn the compassion involved/needed when helping others.

I really want to encourage each of you to pop on over to the Craft Hope site and snoop around a bit and see if there is anything you could do to become involved as well. Even if you're not a crafty person, try teaming up with someone who might be able to teach you or take over the crafty part of the project (you could stuff bean bags that your crafty partner has sewn, or you could find all the supplies needed for a birthing kit, while your crafty partner makes the bag to put them in along with a stuffed animal and blanket), or money donations are always appreciated by the groups featured for each project.

I am so excited to get involved in all the Craft Hope projects going forward and possibly doing up some of the projects that have already passed current status on the site.

I feel it's so important to remember that we can all do our part to help others and that living in the places we do, we should almost feel obligated to help those that need it most. So even if Craft Hope is not something you're especially interested in, I challenge you to make the world a better place this coming week somehow! and if you're up for it, leave a comment telling me how.

Dinosaurs A-Z

As the mother to 2 boys I have a problem.

It's proving to be a bigger problem then I had anticipated at first as it resurfaces each and everyday... at least 4 times!

You see my problem is this... I can not pronounce dinosaur names...

I know, I know, I can hear your gasps of disapproval from here!

I can say the standard ones, you know, Triceratops, Tyrannosaurus Rex, Brontosaurus, Stegosaurus, Velociraptor...

but we have this book, and Eli loves it!

He sits down with it at least a dozen times a day looking at the pictures, and chases me around the house at least 4 of those times asking me to sit with him so he can point out the dinosaurs and I can try to sound out their names.

I mean really:

Coelophysis?

Stenonychosaurus?

Xenotarsosaurus?

Euoplocephalus?

Quetzalcoatlus?

Am I the only one out there that can't say these names no matter how hard I try?

That's why when I found this song I just about cried in relief!

Dinosaur Train is a known show in our house, but I had never heard this song until I stumbled across it on YouTube a few days ago.

Needless to say, I am trying my hardest to memorize it!

Kool-Aid Playdough

My boys really haven't had much interest in playdough.

All their little friends loose their minds for the stuff, but my boys have always been able to take it or leave it, with no real feeling either way.

That was up until last week of course!

We were having a bit of a rough day and in an effort to make everyone happy (or quiet!) I decided to whip up some play dough and hope for the best. I'm not too sure what was so magical about that day, but since then both boys love the stuff!

They ask to play with it at least once and day and can be caught telling people it's their favourite thing!

I know there are a million and one recipes out there to make playdough, but I thought I'd share the one I used. I didn't have any cream of tartar so I skipped it and it worked out just fine! The kool-aid makes it smell super yummy and I've read it has less chance of staining then if you use actual food colouring! I'm sure how true that is, but thought I'd pass on the rumors!

Kool Aid Playdough

1 cup flour

1/4 cup salt

1 pkg kool-aid drink mix

1 Tbsp vegetable oil

1 cup water

Musical Monday: Ray LaMontagne - Shelter

I can't get enough of this song. I love it.

I.Love.It.

A few weeks back I couldn't sleep (I say that like it's not a regular occurrence... tricky, tricky, I am!), and I literally sat at the computer at 1-am listening to this song over and over and over...

Visitors!

My brother in law and his sweetie are coming for a visit starting today all the way until Wednesday!

I'm super excited!

We haven't had much time to get to know his fiance, living so far away and all, so we're really pumped about the chance to hang out before she's officially a member of the family.

And neither of them have seen the boys since the summer! That's like over 6 months ago!

It should make for some fun times!!

Embrace the Camera: My brothers

I come from a family of 5, my parents, my two older brothers and myself.

Hubby and I moved away from our families almost 2 and half years ago because of my mister's work and in that time we've only been home for a visit once. My parents, the hub's parents and my brother in law have all come to see us, here, but my brother's have their own families and very busy lives that are full of all kinds of responsibilities that just haven't allowed for them to come for a visit.

During our summer visit we had some family photos taken and I love this one so much. It's everything my brothers and I are!

We pester each other to no end, but we always have fun and remain close while we do it!

Awe, I love you guys! Only 4 more months to go!

**pictures were taken by Pure Joy Photography, she's awesome if you're living in Kingston, ON and in need of a photographer, look her up!!**