The Cleansing & Magical Powers of SNOW!

The recent downpour of winter on our city has me filled with hope and enlightenment for new possibilities!

If you haven't guessed already I LOVE SNOW, I'm a winter girl. Yes perhaps I am one of the few who gets excited for the BIG snowstorms and waist high fluffy white stuff (and I have a little theory about people who are most comfortable in a certain season according to their birthdays - of course mine being the 2nd last day of December! no wonder!). I enjoy shovelling the driveway, taking the kids to school on their toboggans, the smell of fresh crisp winter air, and the extra light that reflects off it providing moonlit looking midnights and clean new beginnings with sheer white streets and getting the chance to make the first foot prints or snow angels in an untouched pile of snow.

There is also an extremely romantic melody about falling flakes. I took some pictures this week (as you can see) to try and capture the essence that I feel every time I see a window full of dancing snow and the ground rising above itself. I always get a sense of lightness, a clean slate and new opportunity, tingling romance - cuddling up by a fire, snuggling under a big cosy blanket, cold noses, toes and cheeks, ice skating in an outdoor city rink, tobogganing and the silence of a winter walk. It's all so magical how snow can do this, little white flakes all mashed together making all things new again.

So the next time you grumble about getting stuck in traffic, being late for an appointment or getting your favourite pant cuffs wet, due to snow - take a moment to take it all in around you - look out your car window and watch if only for a moment the silence and calm of a snowflakes flailing all around you, gently placing themselves on your windshield and car never harming the paint job but simply blending together to make a snow blanket. They are peacemakers, join them and find some inner calm and go about your day being thankful for the wonderful seasons we get to experience every few months here in Canada!

The Price of Children

A Post from another enlightened mommie at CAFE MOM, i just had to share it!

February 13, 2007 at 5:21 PM by plaidtink

I have repeatedly seen the breakdown of the cost of raising a child, but this is the first time I have seen the rewards listed this way. It's nice.

The government recently calculated the cost of raising a child from birth to 18 to be $160,140 for a middle income family. Talk about sticker shock! That doesn't even touch college tuition. But $160,140 isn't so bad if you break it down.

It translates into:

* $8,896.66 a year, or

* $741.38 a month, or

* $171.08 a week.

* That's a mere $24.24 a day!

* Just over a dollar an hour.

Still, you might think the best financial advice is "if you want to be 'rich', don't have children. Actually, it is just the opposite.

What do you get for your $160,140?

* Naming rights. First, middle, and last!

*Glimpses of God every day.

* Giggles under the covers every night.

* More love than your heart can hold.

* Butterfly kisses and Velcro hugs.

* Endless wonder over rocks, ants, clouds, and warm cookies.

* A hand to hold, usually covered with jelly or chocolate.

* A partner for blowing bubbles, flying kites

* Someone to laugh yourself silly with, no matter what the boss said or how your stocks performed that day

For $160,140, you never have to grow up. You get to:

* finger-paint,

* carve pumpkins,

* play hide-and-seek,

* catch lightning bugs, and

* never stop believing in Santa Claus.

You have an excuse to:

* keep reading "The Adventures of Piglet and Pooh" ,

* watch Saturday morning cartoons,

* go to Disney movies,

* wish upon a star.

You also get to:

* frame rainbows, hearts, and flowers under refrigerator magnets,

* collect: spray painted noodle wreaths for Christmas,

* hand prints set in clay for Mother's Day,

* cards with backward letters for Father's Day.

For $160,140, there is no bigger bang for your buck. You get to be a hero just for:

* retrieving a Frisbee off the garage roof,

* taking the training wheels off a bike,

* removing a splinter,

* filling a wading pool,

* coaxing a wad of gum out of bangs, and

* coaching a baseball team that never wins but always gets treated to ice cream regardless.

You get a front row seat to history to witness history:

* her first step,

* his first word,

* her first bra,

* his first date, and

* their first time behind the wheel.

You get to be immortal. You get another branch added to your family tree, and if you're lucky, a long list of limbs called grandchildren and great grandchildren in your obituary. You get an education in psychology, nursing, criminal justice, communications, and human sexuality that no college can match. In the eyes of a child, you rank right up there under God.

You have the power to:

* heal a boo-boo,

* scare away the monsters under the bed,

* patch a broken heart,

* police a slumber party,

* ground them forever, and

* love them without limits...so that one day they, like you, they will love without counting the cost. That is quite a deal for the price!

WOW! What a beautiful way to look at our most successful accomplishments = having children!

Love & enjoy your children & grandchildren, nieces & nephews!

HAPPY Monday everyone, So what happened on YOUR weekend?

A Smorgasbord of stuff for the weekend...

Don't forget the OSCARS!
This weekend (Sunday Feb. 25) Hollywood glitters!

If you're into that kind of thing, you'll see and hear alot of celebrities and stories of the parties afterwards, check you local listings for your tv time slot - get out the popcorn (it's going to be a long haul) Get the kids to bed early or have them up and you can each have your own list of favourites to win - yep an Oscar Party!

The best Baby Food In Canada!
SweetPea Baby Food - Organic, original recipes, they come in frozen "pods" making it a nutritious and convenient option for busy, health-conscious parents. I had a taste at the winter baby & toddler show and I was AMAZED! The Lentils and root veggies actually tasted like homemade! Delicious and nutritious. Not that I am against Heinz or Gerber (they are convenient too,.. I personally would just NEVER eat that stuff in the jar - BLEHCH! So WHY am i feeding it to my baby.... Well she loves it, and sometimes prefers it over her bite size fresh foods that I leave on her tray, and it's convenient too like I said. The ONLY CON about the sweet Pea baby food is ... The Price ... It's EXPENSIVE- and if you are like me and the majority of regular parents out there - YOU are on a BUDGET! So if you would like to treat your baby once and awhile, OR if you think that the cost outweighs the nutritional benefits - than this baby food is for you and your baby!

It comes in variety of flavours:

From about 6 months: - Banana Blueberry, Sweet Potato, Broccoli

From about 8 months: - Veggies, Beef & Barley, Lentils & Root Veggies, Veggies & Chicken

They are available in select grocery and health food stores across Canada. (Some Dominion and Whole Foods are carrying it now) Check the website for more locations and more varieties coming soon. www.sweetpeababyfood.com

A new book I think is WORTH investing in!

The Debt Free DIVA (Dee Dee Sung) (THANKS Judith!)

I received a copy of this amazing new CANADIAN book directed at women, but can be useful for both men & women alike. "This book is designed to help women reinvent their relationship to money using a combination of psychological and practical advice. It dares to delve into the sensitive issue of money from within, while motivating us to take action using simple, proactive steps. It gives the world of personal finance a hip, fresh face and takes the reader on a journey to be savoured. The Debt Free Diva shows women how to create a healthy relationship to money with the purpose of turning dreams into reality!"

What stuck out for me personally was Chapter 14 - "Change in Scenery" it begins with an affirmation: "DIVA SPEAK: I handle change with flexibility, confidence and ease" and the chapter refers to times in our lives when things will change (refer to my post on Feb 19th) for example - Suddenly Single, New Babies, Loss of Job, Sabbaticals, Kids & College, Taking care of your parents & your own children etc... - and gives useful information on why and how things change and what to do about it.

As well as this handy tip Debt Free Diva CPR - Life saving technique for times of financial crisis. Communicate, Prioritize, Restructure ... You'll have to buy the book in order to get the full details on this but believe me it's worth it!

For more on the book and it's company please visit http://www.debtfreediva.com/

All for now, Have a SUPER weekend!

If Only you knew... Oh WAIT! Now you DO!

WARNING!!... ADULT CONTENT BELOW...MATURE EYES ONLY...ALERT!
Ever get that feeling, irritated, hot, steamy, flirty, tingly - yes otherwise known as amourously in overdrive and in immediate need of attention!

Well that's me lately,... call it my mid-thirties,.. I am in my PRIME after all, and well.... no one to ravage. Let's just say it's seriously frustrating and I am starting to feel like a GUY. You know like a little teenage boy that is willing to "stick-it" with anybody. Okay well I wouldn't go that low,... but my standards are definitely wavering to just fill in a couple of secret rendevous' - if only I could be brave enough to take on a few of the nice offers I've received. :) But yep - I'm a chicken really. I suppose a couple glasses of wine and some loud dance music in a dark setting would do the trick, LOL. What can I say a little incentive goes a long way.

I just find it hard to concentrate on anything else lately... I'm having a hard time speaking fluent, coherent sentences, I'm fidgety, and looking for every reason to get out of the house and go somewhere FUN! I only see one problem to this casual quickie... Is that it's been so long since the last time I was, let's say, "funky" (2+ years can you believe it?!) or even longingly kissed, or lovingly touched in anyway ~ that I'm afraid I would enjoy it too much and then once or twice wouldn't be enough. You see, to me sex and intimacy is like candy,.. you have a little... and then you just want more. That would just be dangerous to have consistent "funky" cravings. GREAT! Either way I'm damned!!!!! hee heeheeee

Women, you MUST know what I mean... the scent of a manly man, the firm and warm embrace, holding you as if you weigh not more than an apple, the firm, yet gentle kiss, the soft & deliberate trace down each side of your body and all around and near the spots that count. The first touch, tickle, taste, .................Gawd I can't even continue this - I'm about to race outside into the frigid temperatures and dunk myself in the snow just to freeze my thoughts out for a little longer so I can actually sleep. UHG. Ahahhahahahhahah!

I feel sorry for my neighbour (and all the other unoblivious men I see in the weirdest places / gas pump/ grocery store/ walking their dog in the park),... all though he doesn't know it (yet, wink*), he has been playing the starring role in most of my fantasies in the last year! AHHAHAHHAHH! LMAO! If only he knew what we have done together AHAHAhahahhahah AHAHHA! He might blush Tee hee heeeee

Anywhoo, you know,.. just getting it out,.. really just "outing" myself has made me feel just a little bit better. Now what am I going to feel the next morning after some people I know personally read this post............... WELL......................... That's another story, but well we all know the "walk of shame" right? I'm sure everyone has done that once or twice in their lifetime ... well let's just add this one to my list. Hee hee heeeeee

CHEERS! Here's hoping you're enjoy (frequent) great romps on behalf of us sorry people ahahha! ENJOY & GOOD MORNING!

CHANGE - a State of Mind!

As a woman (ladies you may be able to relate here) you can find me on any given day in any given moment in the midst of CHANGE. I am most compared to a chameleon of sorts. I change my hair colour frequently (more often when pre-children) my clothing style annually/seasonally depending on my mood, my acquaintances about every 2-5 years or depending on the situation and just plain love to morph and grow in about any direction I can.

I do alot of thinking and alot of soul-searching daily, it has just always been my nature to dig deep and reveal. I suppose I am not as mysterious as I would so love to be - however to 'get-in' to my psyche and actually understand it is a whole other challenge for most - so it has yet to be proven otherwise.

Currently I find myself sexually inhibited, and out of control as far as structured behaviour and looking for that next moment of change - however it is currently happening so fast and in my face lately that I am actually having a hard time getting a grasp on it all. I mean I am re-entering the public workforce (after 4 off & on years), leaving a substantial relationship, transforming my mind, body and soul, (so physically & emotionally) and coming to terms with it all in a short period of time. Just ONE of these would be alot for most people, but I find myself in this state at least every 5 years if not more when I was younger. But this time I not only have ME to take care of I have 2 other little ones, uhg. The pressure is almost killing me, and yet is also very exciting for what may lay upon the horizon. I no longer have to feel trapped in a situation where none of my needs where being met and I was perpetually unhappy. I look forward to the new me, the changes - who says this has to be all negative?! ... Oh yeah,.. That was me. AHHAHAHHAHA

Well I'm hoping to adopt "a new attitude" in order to get through this - and it is going to be a monumental change over the next 12 months, and definitely NOT going to be easy at the best of times - but I am ready for the change - this past that I am removing myself from, has ripped the life out of me - I am dull, lethargic, disengaged and for anyone who really knows the true Vesper Peeps knows that this is definitely NOT me! UHG. I'm so sick of this dry, dreary woman.

So keep an eye out, watch for the pics, and stories to come - I would appreciate all of your support along the way, this is going to be very bumpy. Thanks to CB for sticking it all the way through with me over the last 8 years ! WHOA! Can you believe it has been that long girrrrl?! and especially the last 4, I know you couldn't have told me to do anything more than what I have already done, and I celebrate the 2 wonderful little souls that have come of those decisions. Thanks for always being my rock of Gibraltar, non-judgmental, sympathetic, sensitive and "in-my-face" when you had to be. I can't say that even one family member has supported me so thoroughly when I needed it most - you were AND ALWAYS are there for me, and for that I am truly thankful. Love ya girl - here's to twenty more good years and partying well into our geezer days!

Here's hoping all your changes and risks are well worth it!

5 Things I LOVE

In the spirit of Valentine's Day (or Friendship and Caring day as we prefer to call it) - regardless of my bah humm bug of it all (every year) - I've compiled a little list of things I love off the top of my head - Here's hoping all your hunny's and lovey's are good to you today & everyday

Enjoy!

1. i love sunshine, especially in the morning when I draw up my curtains ~ and in the afternoon when the sunlight comes dripping in my windows facing west. Ahhhhhhhh, I love how the light and warmth makes my skin feel covered in my favourite micro fleece blankie and my insides feel energized from the vitamin burst!
   
2. i love the earth (yes I do love recycling but that's not what I mean) I mean the stuff we walk on and work in all year round. i love raking and planting, digging and sowing in my gardens every spring & summer. Sometimes I just can't resist getting in there with my bare hands, turning the soil, choosing the best place for my seedlings, flowers, herb & veggies. (I'm definitely not a girl who is afraid to get dirty ....... HEY! get your minds out of the flower pots!) This is one of the most connected places I can be (besides growing, forming, bearing, nourishing & raising my children) i feel so fulfilled reaping the rewards of nurturing these plants and watching them grow, what an amazing feeling!


3. i love a long hot shower, with LOTS of water pressure! It's amazing the little things that can be taken for granted like these. On a day where I just can't seem to get on track, need a pick-me-up or need to quiet my mind ~ I often have to remind myself of the power of a good long hot shower. It does wonders for my mind and my body, adjusting my perspective to whatever has taken hold of me and allows me to step out free clear and an added bonus.... I smell good too :D ahahha!


4. i love and appreciate my health! I am pleased to announce my family health history remains fairly strong and I actually look forward to getting older each year. If I've got the genes of my elders I'm looking at taught fresh skin, energy to burn, memories of steel, an young-at-heart attitudes! Wahhh HOOOO. I have personally never suffered any Long-Term physical health issues and I so humbly appreciate that I can have the use of my body & mind to walk n' talk, run n' shake, view n' hear the world, touch n' taste with wild abandon (HEY! there you go again...) and I am refusing to take my body or mind for granted anymore.


5. i love my appetite for life and that i carry not one regret (okay maybe one, but I'm not telling!). I can say without a doubt that i have lived my life fully ~ to the point at which i am comfortable with ~ and turned several stones to reveal truth, grief, joy, anger, celebration, coming-of-age, adventure, naughty n' nice, higher purpose for myself & others, beauty, reality and wisdom. All of which have combined and Incorporated themselves into and out of my being. I love to be able to uncover a family mystery, or shed some light to provide clarity on a situation that long stumped me or others. I devour information about human beings and the what, why, how of everything that comes my way. I am an advocate for justice, I love to see riddles solved, earthly miracles, human kindness (especially the random kind) and children being treated like people - not toys or handbags! I think I've climbed every step of the path of my life's journey with rugged determination and sheer will (even when I wanted to shut down, and absolutely I did on occasion - I'm mean I'm human after all , but after my pity party I'd get right back up and brush of the dirt and keep climbing) always looking for the new path, the more rugged trail and hopped on with childlike enthusiasm anticipating the twists and turns that would come my way next. Yes I love my life, regardless of the current turmoil, it all makes sense to me and I wouldn't have it any other way.

HAPPY Friendship & Caring DAY everyone. Feel free to let me know your Top 5 Thing YOU Love - Can't wait to see them! Ahhhh Gheessh that damn cupid got to me again! Hugs & Highfives everyone :)

PLEASE, don't be afraid to post a COMMENT :)

Hi Ya!

I don't BITE no matter what you've heard or read about me ;) . In fact I am a pretty fun and easy person to know. That being said I DO LOVE to voice my opinions - I have been told I am opinionated, opportunistic, very serious, too intense and other things like Silly, FUN, humorous, kind hearted, deeply caring, loves hard, wears her heart on her sleeve, organized, a planner, a great mother and intuitive, faithful-to-a-fault friend! So why am i not seeing comments when others come to visit? ( okay sorry to the few that have left some on the earlier installments - I thank you for your participation)

Are my posts scaring people off? Is it just not comment worthy content? Do you just not want to be identified?

Tell me dear readers - what will it take to get you involved here? What kind of content would you like to see more of or less of for that matter?

I aim to please, some of the time, and others times I just want to vent or feel understood and want to have my opinion anyway. :)

Looking forward to your input - don't be shy, as they say, my bark is worse than my bite - Grrrrrrrrooooowwwwwll! hee hee heeeee

Grumble, Groan....Then Don't forget to Laugh!

I have to be honest here, things at home have been taking over my ability to think fairly clearly and thus I felt it would be a disastrous event to post "my feelings" here at any time. So I haven't had much else to post recently - that and I do have another blog at Cafe Mom (www.cafemom.com) which also keeps me quite occupied. (Mommies Check out the site if you've never been there it's amazing! The women are so supportive and genuine.)

"Balance is the key", "this too shall pass" isn't that what most people say to ease your pain?... "keep your chin up" and all that other crap that is supposed to make you feel better about your turmoil? Gheesh! Patronizing and belittling your situation or what?!

It might be better if people actually said what they mean (sort of) ... Like "I really don't give a hoot-a-nanney about you at this time, even though you've always been there for me, I've got other things on my mind, and quite frankly I don't want to return the favour it's too much work being a friend.... but good luck with that eh?"

But then again...I suppose I really wouldn't want to hear the actual truth (but a portion would be nice) instead of those kinds of people who say "I'll be there for ya "man" and then when in need of support they are in a no-contact zone, and then suddenly reappear after the grey clouds subside. Hrmmmm interesting.... I mean just say what's actually going on for you, or that you're unavailable right now,.. I mean What good ever comes of leaving a person at a place of confusion and pain, with no support and having them in addition try and figure out why you're not there or calling to see how we're doing? It's crazy to me really, but then I'm not "them", I don't live my life in that way. I suppose also this is when the weeding out the Real-Friends occurs.

I for one have made a commitment to myself to be generous and available to my good close friends (who are a surrogate family to me) whenever sticky-icky-gloomy situations occur, and the happy ones too for that matter! But in the essence of being able to provide that kind of friendship I like to receive, I've had to limit my number of close relationships, as I invest so much time and effort into each one. I prefer a small, less handful of goodies to that of a room full of acquaintances, know what I mean?

Anywhoo this post is seemingly going nowhere fast, I'm starting to sound pompous instead of sincere and truthful about my disappointments... so in the spirit of being a clown and almost always being able to elicit humour from others, for others.... Please enjoy responsibly the following little joke (aimed to couples after children)

How not to rekindle the romance:

• Hum the Boohbah theme song.
• Mention glycerin suppositories.
• Say, "Does this fat make me look fat?"
• Moo when you take your bra off.
• Call your partner "Daddy" in a singsong voice.

..........And my Favourite ONE!

• Remind him of the greatest miracle of your relationship: the time he saw your vagina turn inside out.

That one had me rolling over for days! AHAHHAHAH Enjoy people, have good one.

For the love of my children!

At the risk of sounding really cheesy (and potentially giving too much of my mystery away LOL!) ,...
What can I say?! I adore my children :)

Their long eyelashes, and chubby legs, the BIG baby blues, and soft golden hair. The sweet baby smell and the innocence of their actions and curiosity about life and the world around us. It is all so deeply, lovingly, amazing to me absolutely everyday,... well okay not when they are both crying, demanding, temper tantruming, and well just being kids (but perhaps mommie just wants a little peace & quiet or grown up time, and isn't the least bit interested in watching the Lion King for the Umpteenth time or playing Power Rangers - where I almost always get swiped at and hit with a sword! Ouch, it really hurts people - or getting up in the middle of the night to remedy a screeching, crying little one or soaking wet bed...never mind throwing frozen pancakes to "the monsters" upstairs - I have to keep a Ziploc supply in the freezer for just these moments - apparently since I've grown up they've advanced from eating little children, hrmmmm.... I like that)

All that aside mind you I just look at my two little cherub treasures and take a deep breath and *sigh*.... I thank my angels as often as I can, I know and am humbled by my luck with these children. They are intuitive, generous, smart as a whip (what the heck does that mean anyway! ahah) free spirited and unabashedly loving. You may also know of many couples who are the best couple in the world and would make the best parents only to be left in mother nature's reject pile for conception. It's so not fair... mind you they have some of the best kids after all by being even luckier to welcome a sweet child into their homes through the miracle of adoption! (At lot more work than your average bedroom romp too!)

I have recently (in the last 6-8 mths) been chronicling journal entries and milestone excerpts for both of my kids. There is no rhyme or reason to the structure of my "letters" It's just when something exciting (or not so exciting) and I feel like writing to my children, I type it out and address the situation (Emmerson crawled today, Hayden made new friends, How I felt about our day today). I feel like it is a testament to them, for them and with them. As I speak from my heart and truthfully about my feelings as a parent to them, like said it's not always pretty and roses. I will talk about my feelings and theirs about an argument or willful discipline issue we had that day,... or I might talk about what I am going through as their mother and as a woman...Or I might just site the obvious milestones. Whatever comes out I always feel full in the end because I know how much this will mean to them to look back and really know what was going on.

I wish my mother had done the same thing... I have heard the handful of stories about my childhood a million times, but when it comes to details, or derailing off of those 5 or 6 stories I get little or no response, and it is severely frustrating. Especially when you are trying to piece information together from dealing with childhood trauma - albeit minor to some (i.e. divorce, parenting a parent, skipping your childhood in order to take the lead in the family) but to me it has been the struggle that holds many answers to the trials of my youth and entrance into adulthood. I have moved forward and dealt with alot of these such issues over my short life, and continue on a path to higher purpose & self discovery. I'm changing all the time, and I love it. (hope that doesn't make me sound like a crazy person, Ah well, it wouldn't be the first time someone thought that ! AHAHhaha)

I hold for my children that they may have a smoother and joyful transition into childhood, youth & adulthood, as time is so fleeting, we blink and those days of playgrounds and wading pools are far behind us.

So for today...and everyday I will continue to hug and kiss my children, to laugh at their jokes that don't make ANY sense! (perhaps that is why they think they are SO funny, gosh little geniuses) guide them and comfort them, allow them to just be children however that unfolds for each of them and be kind to myself - as I am the one and only mother they will ever have, and for that I am truly thankful.

P.S. A friend told me recently that "kids get only 2 parents in their lifetime, and then make millions of friends, so there is no reason to be their friend - accepting your role as a parent is not only respecting yourself, it is respecting them. Giving them what they really need - someone to look to for advice, comfort, stability, shelter, and a role that can never be replaced, by anyone" (she was referring to a few men/fathers we know that act like friends to their kids).

I just found this to be so revealing and a wonderful way to not feel guilty about discipline, consequences, rules, and other dirty jobs of parenting. Something many mothers including myself feel torn about on a regular basis! Yea *Sigh....* I love being a mother, I really do.

February Forecasts are in!

It's a new month and time to get your stars in alignment, or at least get a glimpse of what your month "could" be like. Remember if you just sit on your @$$ all month then likely you will "avoid" any of the mis or very fortunate happenings in your life.

Susan Miller, is an amazing astrologist! Anyone I know that has read their forecast (most times) has noted this woman is right on, Right On!

For your dedicated monthly horoscope click here:
http://www.astrologyzone.com/forecasts/

If you are also interested in love connections or just want to know more about you click on the "Life and Love" or "Cosmic Tools" Menu choices at the top of the page (at link).

Let me know if anything fascinating is going on for you or going to happen for you this month!
Chow Mien, tootles noodles people!