Do what YOU want to do

Most of the time, as parents, we make decisions based on emotion. We do what we “feel” is good for the better of our family. We make our choices based on the fact of how something makes us feel. Nobody likes to feel scared, nobody likes to feel naive, and nobody likes to feel vulnerable.

We have a very important role when we become parents. We have to do research, talk to doctors, and talk to other mothers, for their opinion and their advice. We become confused and overwhelmed, and when this happens we panic. We don’t like the feeling of “not knowing”; we don’t like the feeling of “not guaranteed.”

We have been flooded with information these past few days about what to do. Yesterday, my whole day was spent on the phone, on the internet and on email. I was communicating with other mothers about what they are going to do. It is a pretty important role to make a decision for our children. We are torn between a new vaccine, and a very scary flu. If I don’t vaccinate then I could be putting my young children at risk, and if I do vaccinate, I am giving them something that I don’t want to give them.

I have decided to sit back, relax, and wait. I am not saying that I will never give them the shot. I may do it in a few weeks from now, I may not. I just don’t want to feel pressured to give my kids something I don’t know anything about. When our backs are against the wall, we most always make irrational decisions; we may not usually do, on a normal basis.
I think that everyone needs to make their own decisions. Don’t base it on the mass opinions; base it on your own. We are all scared, and we are all in this together. We shouldn’t criticize other people’s decision, no matter what it may be. In times like this, the worst thing you can do is make someone else feel like their decision was the “wrong” one.
Let’s continue to talk, share and understand what’s going on. Don’t do what your doctors tell you to do; don’t do what your friends tell you to do, just do what you want to do. You may not know the answer right now, but at least YOU will be responsible for your own decision.
That's my peace today!

Lemondrop Shots
We are all under a lot of stress lately, what better way to calm our nerves then with some alcohol..enjoy this shot with friends, just please remember to drink responsibly..lol

Grey Goose Vodka (as much as you need)
salt
Lemon wedges
shot glass

Wet the rim of your glass, dip in salt. Pour vodka in glass. Lick salt around rim of glass, down the vodka and suck the lemon. A few of these and you won't care about anything else..you may even forget you have kids..lol.
ENJOY!

Keep the Faith

In life, there are many things we can think about that will drive us nuts. We can research and read about things that will make us worry. We are inundated all day long with statistics and information about all the “bad” things that can happen. If we want, we can sit down all day long, and just worry.

Recently, we have been warned and bombarded with information on H1N1 virus. Vaccinate, don’t vaccinate, we have been hearing it all. We must make decisions for us and our children on what we THINK is right or wrong. The media is causing panic and stress to ensure we take the steps to receive the vaccine. There are no studies, it has not been around long enough, do we trust it? We have heard of deaths among young, healthy children. We have heard of long term side effects of the vaccination. All I can say is.....ahhhhh! Please stop, please stop causing worry and stress, to an already stressful world we live in.

We worry when we fly, because of terrorism; we worry when we get in our cars, because of accidents; we worry about lumps, because of cancer; we worry about e-coli, listeria and salmonella in our food; and now we must worry about flu like symptoms, because of swine. Our jobs are hard enough trying to ensure our children are eating healthy, getting enough rest, and doing well in school. Do we have to add panic to the mix?
There are too many hours in a day to sit down and think about all the bad that can happen. There are too many avenues of illness and danger to worry about. We are constantly wondering if our kids are safe, healthy and are not talking to “bad” people. We constantly doubt ourselves, and our decisions, as parents. We must stop this! We must just enjoy our lives, and take it, for all the good it has to offer.

Life is precious, life is special, and life is sacred. We must wake up every morning and fill our bodies with positive attitude. Let us put happy thoughts in our minds. Let’s stop this worry over everything the media wants to brainwash us with. We need to stand up, and be strong and we sometimes need to plug our ears, cover our eyes, and unplug our TV. We need to dig deep in our hearts and we need to gather our strength. We need to rely on our own gut feelings, not on the recommendation of strangers and the media. We need to tune out all the negative feedback, and opinion. We need to feel confident in our choices and our decisions. We need to be diligent, cautious, but at the same time, we should not second guess or decisions.
In worrisome times, we can only rely on our beliefs, and our beliefs of a higher power. We are only humans, we don’t know everything, and we cannot always prepare for things larger than us. This is when we must be positive in our own thoughts and in our own ideas. We need to remain calm, composed and more importantly we need to keep the faith.
That’s my peace today!

Caprese Salad
4 large tomatoes
1 tub of large bocconcini
bunch of basil
1/4 cup olive oil
salt and oregano for taste
10 Kalamati olives (optional)

Slice tomatoes into thin slices. Arrange on a large plate. Slice bocconcini into thin slices and arrange on tomato slices. Wash fresh basil and arrange on each slice. Salt and oregano on all slices, and pour olive oil evenly to cover each slice. (You may add Kalamati olives if desired)

A daughter is a daughter..for life

At 8:42p.m, on March 17, 2004 my very precious daughter was born. She was my second child, but she was my first little girl. I cannot tell you how happy I was, how elated I was, and how surprised I was. My husband and I were convinced that we were going to have another boy, so when the doctor placed her on my stomach, tears ran down my face. I couldn’t believe that God gave me a daughter. I now had the perfect family.

I immediately bought PINK. Pink everything. Pink clothes, pink rattles, pink toys, pink bottles, anything pink. I wanted to let the world know that I had a little girl. She was an amazing baby, always happy, smiling and just plain sweet. We had a connection from the beginning. She was very attached to me, and I to her. She was my new little friend, visions of her and I shopping, giggling, and bonding is what I was waiting for.

When babies are born, they are neither girls or boys, they are just babies. They do not have characteristics or personality traits, that reflect their gender. Their likes and dislikes uncover by about age 2. Once Maria-Alicia began to show her “true” girly traits, I just adored it. She is such a girl. She is delicate, soft, fashionable, but yet she is assertive, confident, and very, very sneaky..lol. I can read right through her little fibs, my husband is not quite there yet.lol. She can get him to do anything she wants him to do. She has a way to coddle, and butter him up. He smiles and does what she wants. I am a grown adult, and my father still runs, when I need something. It is just a fatherly/daughter thing you do. Little girls have a special bond with their daddies, that never goes away.

Mothers and daughters also have a special bond. We imagine how life will be when they grow into young adults, all the changes they go through physically, and emotionally. We were there once, and we understand what they will go through. We try very hard to prepare them for life as a woman. All the pressures, and expectations that come with that role. We try to prepare them for the mean girls, and the occasional, not so nice boyfriend. Our jobs as mothers to our daughters, is to teach them to be confident, tough, and sensitive. We try to teach them, that life is not always fair, and that sometimes we may have to bend the rules, to get what we want. We try to teach them to use good judgement when they encounter a person, or a situation that they may not be prepared for. We try to teach them, with patience, comes good things.

Mothers want the absolute best for their daughters. We want them to be strong and independent. We want them to be able to learn how to make their own money, and we also want them to know how to spend it. We, as mothers, are our daughter’s role models. They look to us for guidance, and support. They look to us for love and affection. There will be a stage in our daughter’s life where they will want to break free from us, and we must be careful to ensure they come back. We must ensure that we steer them in the right direction, because it may be bumpy at times.

God blessed me twice. I am grateful for my 2 daughters. They bring pleasure and happiness to my life. I know how lucky I am to have 2 little friends. 2 little fashion models, and 2 little giggly, silly, munchkins. I know that they will be my lifelong friends, even during days they may not “like” me, or my rules. They will know, just like I did with my mother, that I only want the best for them. They will know that I will always be there for them. They will know that I love them unconditionally. When you are blessed with daughters, you will know, that a daughter, is a daughter..for life.
That’s my peace today!

Pasta and Ricotta
1 pack spagetti
1 container ricotta
1/4 c milk
4 springs chopped parsley

Boil pasta as directed. Leave in strainer. Meanwhile, pour ricotta and milk in the pot the pasta was in and heat until smooth and creamy. Add pasta and toss. Serve in plates and sprinkle fresh parsley.

Smiles are not included

What happened to the mom and pop shops? The places that were open until 5pm Monday to Friday and closed on Sunday? Do they still exist, and if they do, who is going? Every Thursday night, weekly special flyers arrive on my doorstep. There is a mixture of grocery stores, hardware stores, and clothing stores. I enjoy this part of my week (I know, I need to go out more..lol). I pour my coffee and look over what’s on sale, and at what store. Of course, Walmart always has the best prices, on absolutely everything. So once I see what is on sale, I write my list and I get ready to go.

I know that I am not the only one who enjoys looking at the flyers because I see my neighbours run out to get the package, if someone dares takes their flyer bag, because they lost their own, there will be blood..lol. Everyone wants a bargain; a deal; a special. The worst feeling is when you go shopping and you get ripped off. No one wants to pay strawberries $3.99 at Fortinos’s, when they are on sale at Longo’s for $2.49. So we all make sure that what we need for the week, is not on sale somewhere else. If you need a couch, a mattress, or a TV, you will find it in the weekly flyers.

Last Friday, I was going to my parents house, I was thinking about dinner, and what I needed, to make it. There is a small strip plaza on the way to my mothers, so I stopped. Let me tell you, I forgot how much I LOVE small shops. I walked in to the small grocery/butcher store, and I got greeted by the butcher, the cashier, and other customers. There were smiles on the faces on all the employees, and they were eager to help me with my requests. They had everything I needed. Once I was done there, I went outside, took 10 steps to the left to the bakery, and I picked up a fresh loaf of Italian bread, and once I was done there, I took 20 steps to the right at the Cleaners, and I picked up my pants, where I left them to get altered a few days earlier. Within 30 minutes, everything I needed was in my hands. I had a great feeling of satisfaction, freshness and abundance.

We all end up at these big box stores, where they promise we will save money, time and stress. (Everything we need). But all the Big Box stores do, is the exact opposite. It starts off with driving in the large parking lot, fighting with other drivers for a parking spot. Getting upset and aggravated at the people that park in the “With children” spot, when they don’t have kids. Then we enter the store, where we are greeted with only chaos and loud voices on the intercom. Then we grab a germ infested cart, push it around, only to bump into others trying to do the same thing. If we can’t find what we are looking for, well then too bad because anyone working there does not want to be bothered helping you look for it. Then, we end it, by arriving at a long line up at the cash, where we wait at least 20 minutes (on a good day), with a cashier who hates his/her job, and counting the minutes until they clock out. There is no customer service, no staff eager to help, and there is definitely no warm, fuzzy feeling.

These Big Box stores make us believe that they are fast, convenient, and stress free. I am not sure if the “big” owners, have actually shopped in their own stores? We are treated like everything, but customers. When they list a sale item, it is a hit or miss if it will actually be on the shelves, and there is nothing great about arguing with other customers, because we have more than 16 items at the express line.

Life can still go on without these stores, there are actually other shops available, that are willing and wanting to serve us. They are becoming more and more few and far between. The big grocers are on every corner, in every town. How do we expect these small shops to survive when you can buy produce, meat, deli, clothes, furniture, and get our clothes cleaned, all at the same place? Shouldn’t we be supporting these small grocers? We may have to get out and go to more than 1 place to get it, but at least we will enjoy the experience. All we are doing is supporting these high profit grocery stores, because we think it is “easier” for us. These big stores have convinced us that we don’t need little stores anymore. They have convinced us that we should be happy with all the stuff they carry, and they convince us that we shouldn’t care the way we are treated, while we are shopping. They also convince us, that we can get whatever we want, as long as it's not a smile, because that is not included.
That’s my peace today!

Grilled Calamari
4 uncut raw squid
4 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup olive oil
4 springs basil and parsley, chopped
salt and pepper to taste
3 cloves garlic, crushed

In a bowl, whisk oil, vinegar, garlic, and herbs. Salt and pepper the squid. Pour oil mixture in a tupper ware, add squid and marinate for an hour. Grill about 7 minutes medium heat, each side. Serve on bed of salad, or alone.

"I will never do that with my kids"

Before we became parents we had these expectations and belief of how parenting should be. No candy, no milk before bed, no back talking and no sharing a bed with our kids. We would look at moms who spanked their kids’ bums as abusers, and mean. We looked at moms that did not discipline at all, as push over’s. We believed that these mothers are raising monsters and potential serial killers.lol.

That is what we do as people. We judge. We judge other women. We judge other mothers. We don’t always see our own faults’, we like to see other mother’s faults. We tell our other mother friends, what these “bad” mothers did. We tell our husbands what these “not so loving” mothers did. We tell our own mothers, we will have more patience than they did. It is human nature to feel like we will do better than others. We believe that we will do a better job when we have kids, that we won’t lose our patience, or that we won’t yell at our kids. We have this belief that parenting is simple. We have kids, they listen and we sing and dance everyday with them. We have this belief that they will potty train without any effort; they will lose their bottle, and their pacifier, because we tell them too. We have this belief that they will learn how to read when they are supposed to, and we have this belief that we will have all the time in the world for activities, games and all day colouring.

It is only then, when you have your own kids that life with children begins to unravel, and things become clear. A few years ago, I was in a shoe store with my older kids and my daughter (who was only 2 at the time) began to pull a fit and a tantrum because she wanted these Dora boots. My husband was willing to buy these boots, but I said no. I said no because she already had a pair of boots, and she didn’t need a new pair. So she is screaming, crying, just going nuts. There was a couple with a new born baby, just staring and giving me this dirty look, like I had done something wrong. They just wanted her to shut up, and for me to make it happen. Something came over me at that moment, I just saw red and I wanted them to know. I looked right back at them with the same dagger look they were giving me, and then I spoke, “How dare you look at me, you don’t understand what a toddler fit is yet, but you will one day, very soon, and when you do, I want you to think about this moment, and what it will feel like to have someone like you, look at me, and judge me! How dare you.” With that being said, I turned around took my daughter and left the store. Mouths were opened, the cashier was smiling, and I said my peace. When I left that store, I can almost guarantee you that this couple thought I was nuts, and that the situation with my tantrum daughter, will NEVER happen to them.

You can never win when you are a parent. You are constantly being judged, criticized and questioned. People wonder if what you do is the right thing to do, and how they will do it differently. This is all part of being human. I say shame on us. Shame on us that we think we are better than others, shame on us that we judge people. We should all sympathise and understand that being a parent is the hardest job in the world. Sometimes we do the “right” things, sometimes not so much. It is a learning process, everyday is different. It is a job we cannot prepare for and study for. We are all in this together. We are all part of the same team. We are all parents; mothers; fathers. We will all eventually pass every baby stage, toddler stage and the ever dreaded, teenage stage with our kids. Let’s stick together, share notes, share ideas, share solutions. Let’s not judge, criticize and mock. Let’s not tell a mother that may be having a hard time at that moment, “I will never do that with my kids.” Because if you do, be prepared that one day, that mother may be you!
That’s my peace today!

Tomato Sauce
Many of you have asked me what sauce I use. I use 2 brands. Pastene and Bella Tavola. Although I mix with home made sauce,if you don't have home made then use these brands. I always mix one of these cans with home made jar.

2 jars of Pastene or Bella Tavola
1 white onion
4 cloves garlic
8 fresh basil leaves
salt and oregano to taste
4 tbsp oil

In a blender put onion, garlic and blend. Add sauce with 1/4 cup of water and blend to liquify. In a saucepan, heat oil, add sauce and allow to come to boil. Add salt and oregano. Lower to medium high for 15 minutes, lower to medium low for another 15 minutes.

Faster than you can say "BOO"

Last night I was bringing my kids to get their Halloween costumes at Party Packagers and the song “Forever Young” came on the radio. For some really weird reason, I felt a tear forming in my eye. The words really touched me in a way that never did before. “Will you never love in vain because in my heart you will remain, Forever Young.”

As parents we try to teach everything we know to them. Our mistakes, our achievements and our own life lessons. We teach them not to talk to strangers, to treat others the way we want to be treated, to always do things that make us happy, and to stay away from friends that pressure us to do things we don’t want to do. We hope they listen and we always wonder if they really do.
As we walked into the Halloween store, and fought through the crowd, we got to the costumes section. My son wanted to be the “Scream” scary costume and my daughter chose “Hannah Montana.” Of course, their wish was my command. I got to the cash, got ripped off, and left. Thoughts went through my mind when they were looking at the board of pictures of costumes. It was only 2 years ago that my son was a superhero “Batman” and “Ninja Turtle the year before”, my daughter was “Dora” and “Tinker Bell.” Now we have moved onto scary capes and tween age girl icon. What happened from then until now? Did they change that much, so quickly? I didn’t feel it, I didn’t even know it was happening, it just did.

When we got home, I went upstairs to the closet that holds all the old costumes; I saw Dumbo, Lion King, Mickey Mouse, Princess Aurora and other friendly characters. I remembered the days like they were yesterday. Their excitement of their first Halloween, and their first dance-a-thon at school. The days just flew by and they continue too. My children, just like everyone else’s, are growing faster than we have the chance to notice.

“May the good Lord be with you, in every road you roam, and may sunshine and happiness surround you when you’re far from home. “And when you finally fly away, I’ll be hoping that I served you well. For all the wisdom of a lifetime, no one can ever tell.” All we can hope for as parents is that we taught them well and right. My father always said this to me “Diana, I hope I raised you well. That is all I can do to make myself feel ok, when you walk out that door.” Those words always stayed with me, because I know he did his best to teach me right from wrong, and that sometimes I had to learn the hard way. He felt confident that he armed me with his love and knowledge of the “real world.” This is all we can do as parents for our children, they grow so quickly.

I sometimes wonder how my parents allowed me to go out with my 16 year old friends on a Friday night. I asked my mother once and she said this to me “As you grew, I grew with you.” She said to me “I know that I taught you well and that you would not put yourself in a situation that made you feel uncomfortable or unsafe.” Those words are very real. Children don’t grow alone, we grow with them. We reach every situation they reach, with them. Children grow fast, they grow without warning. This Halloween my son will be trick or treating for the 8th time, it happened fast and furious, it happened faster than I thought; it happened faster than I was able to say “BOO.”
That's my peace today!

Stuffed Pasta Shells
1 pack of large Pasta shells
1 tub ricotta
1 pack baby spinach, boiled, chopped and cooled
1 egg
1/2 parsley chopped
1/4 cup parmesan
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella
2 cups cooked sauce

Boil pasta as directed on package. In a bowl, mix ricotta, egg, and spinach and parsley. Combine and stuff into shells. Pour sauce and sprinkle both mozzarella and parmesan on top. Cover and bake for 1 hour at 385 degrees.

You were mom's favourite

Is there such a thing as a “favourite” child? Or is this just something siblings say to bug each other? I heard it my whole life, “Oh we know you’re dad’s favourite, it’s so obvious”. I deny it, my father denies it and we move on, until it comes up again.

When you don’t have children, it is very easy to assume that there can be such a thing. Even if you have 1 child, you still think that it is possible to have a favourite. When you are pregnant with the second child, you constantly wonder “what if I don’t love this baby as much as I love my first?” I am sure those words crossed your mind several times. Then once you have the second, and then maybe the third, and maybe the forth, you know that “favourites” do not exist.
Children are born with their own personalities. Their characters are pretty much clear at birth. They may be calm, happy, sensitive, or maybe they will be the class clown. I do believe the way we parent, plays a large role in their behaviour, but that their personalities are something they are born with. Sometimes I see a lot of characteristics of myself in my children; some of the good and some of the not so good. My son has my temper and my daughter has my bubbly character.

Sometimes we treat our kids differently because they react differently. I find myself more careful with my son , then with my daughter. This does not mean that he is my favourite, I just know that he is a little more high strung than her. She has a wonderful personality, she is sweet, she loves to share, and she is always looking out for others. I don’t take advantage of it, I praise it, and I appreciate it. I appreciate that she is easy going, sweet, and considerate. My son always accuses me of blaming him for everything and that he is the one always getting in trouble. He thinks she is my favourite. He doesn’t see that I am more patient with him, or that I always give him the benefit of the doubt, he just sees it as, me choosing her “side”.

Kids will always feel that they are being treated different than their siblings. It is just part of being a family. We as parents, are always reassuring them that they are all the same. We assure them that it is not humanly possible to love another child more than the other. We assure them that they are all special in their own way. We also assure them that they each have a place in our heart.

I do believe that we have different kinds of bonds and connections with our children. We hold different memories and share different stories with them. We love them all the same, not any more, not any less, than the other. I now know that I am not my father’s favourite because there is no such thing. We just get along because, our characters get along.
We love our kids individually for who they are, individually. They each carry their own strength, they each carry their own weakness. It is our job as parents, to try to mesh it all together, and make it work as a family unit. It is not an easy process, but a necessary one. Just know, even if we master this skill, one day you will probably hear one of your kids shouting to their sibling, “You were always mom’s favourite.” When you hear this; just grin, walk away, and ignore it, they will figure it out one day, when they become parents.

That’s my peace today!

Turkey Soup
2 turkey drumsticks or thighs
2 carrots, peeled
2 celery stalks
1 white onion
1/2 bunch parsley
1 sweet potato
1/4 butternut squash
package of pasta shells (optional)

Boil turkey in a large pot for 20 minutes. Drain water and put fresh water, should reach 3/4 way of pot. Add veggies and parsley. Boil for 1 1/2 hours. Boil pasta seperate and add to individual bowls with soup.

Get ready;Get Set;Get Tylenol

It’s that time of year again! Time of colds, coughs, stomach flu, throat and ear infections. Yippee, sounds like fun to me. It seems as soon as 1 kid gets better, the other gets sick. It becomes a vicious cycle of disinfecting and airing out germs. Doctor appointments and check- ups, become pretty standard in these months. Picking up the kids from school because they threw up all over the carpet..lol. It is just, oh fun, oh joy.

We are indoors for 6 months and it is pretty common to “catch” a cold. We breathe the same air, share the same space and touch the same germ infested door handles as everyone else. Wash your hands; it is the strong message that we have been hearing on the airwaves in the recent weeks and months. It seems we have a new violent flu strain and we should be diligent and adamant in our hand washing and sanitizing. Purell, and other hand disinfectants are flying off the shelves because we don’t want to get sick.

When you have children, it is almost impossible to keep the germs away. They touch, eat, and lick everything, and anything they want. They don’t care if their little friends have a leaky nose, they will share the same crayon as them, and then put it in their mouth. Kids are not like adults; we get grossed out at the thought of another person touching anything we touch, let alone in our mouths. I don’t know about you, but I use my foot to flush in public places because I can’t imagine touching something someone just touched after peeing..lol.

I remember when I was little, my friends and I would lick the fence in the winter to see if our tongue would stick to it. We didn’t think about the fact that a dog may have peed on it, or that another kid had the stomach flu and was sharing the same spot as us, we were kids and we were curious. I encourage my kids’ everyday to wash their hands when they walk in the house. They have become accustomed to going straight to the bathroom to lather up. We have all become obsessed with germs and how to get rid of them.

The flu bug has always been around. Colds have always been part of winter, and infections have always needed some kind of anti-biotic. This is our great old Canadian Winters. We get snow, ice, and we always get seasonal viruses. We try our best to keep the germs away and sanitize our hands, our kids’ toys, and our common household appliances. We have the choice of Lysol and we have the choice of Natural Green products. Whatever we use, we hope it helps. People are not even shaking hands anymore because they are afraid of getting H1N1.
Every time this year, the beginning of Fall and Winter, we stock up on Buckleys and Halls for our throat, we make sure we have a working cold air humidifier, we make sure we have Pedialyte for when our kids’ get the stomach flu and we have our thermometers in hand. So I say; instead of running away, closing your doors and staying inside, just get ready, get set and get Tylenol!
That’s my peace today!

Gnocchi
6 potatoes
2 eggs
6 cups of flour
1 tsp salt
a fork

Boil potatoes, mash with hand masher (the one that shreds the potatoes).Put in bowl and add eggs, salt and flour 1 cup at a time. Once you have reached doughy consistency, cut a piece off (about 3 tbsp) and roll out into a long string. Cut pieces about 1 inch in length, roll off a fork to make lined pattern. Continue until all dough is done.

An apple a day, keeps the doctor away

Yesterday we took the kids apple picking. We went to 2 places in King City; one for apples, the other for pie. It was a beautiful sunny day, and the weather could not have been better. The kids were very excited because it is a tradition we do every year. The kids know that we pick the apples, and we also eat the apples.

Once we were done picking all the types we like; Macintosh, Sparton, Courtland, Red Delicious and of course Spy for pie, we packed up the car, and headed to another orchard. Pine Farms makes the best pies and deserts, I bought our pie, and we were ready to go home.
While we were at these orchards, we saw other families enjoying the same beautiful day as we did. Smiles, laughs, and giggles were heard throughout. There were parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles. Babies, toddlers and young children all sharing the day.

As we were on our way home, I turned around to see my 4 children eating their apples. There was no noise, but the crunching of apples. They were tired and happy, at the same time. I couldn’t help but smile and think to myself how perfect they are. All the feelings of stress, worry and frustrations are gone. All the disciplining, scolding and lecturing were put on hold. That day it was all about being together as a family, picking apples. There were no boundaries or rules. There was no line they couldn’t cross or apple they couldn’t eat. There was no fighting or yelling, and there was no disappointment or anger. We had a good time walking around, taking pictures, pulling apples, and picking up ladybugs. The kids were being kids.

We sometimes complain (ok we almost always complain) about hard days, rough days, and tired days. Being at home, going nuts, feeling the walls are caving in. We want to hide or run away when things get too loud, or when things get too hectic. We want Calgon, Jack Daniels or Smirnoff to take us away. Motherhood is sometimes challenging (ok, almost always challenging) and sometimes there is not enough time to pee. We try to remember why we signed up for the job in the first place, because it doesn’t feel like there will ever be a payoff. We don’t know if, and when it will get easier.

But all those feelings go away when you do things as a family. When you plan those days of “fun things” to do. When you get to see the smiles, and grins from the little things that like has to offer. We spent $30 on apples, (yes it would have cost less if I bought them at Fortino’s), we spent $9 on the pecan pie, but what we got in return was well worth it. The joys of parenthood shine on days like yesterday; it makes me proud that I am a mother. I feel proud, that I brought these little people in this world; it makes me proud to be their mother. I felt proud that I have 4 beautiful, healthy children. Days like yesterday, make all the tough part of the job feel smooth and flawless; it makes it feel like it is all worth it. We all need days like I had yesterday; we all need those refresher days of family. Going apple picking for us, made all of us happy. Apples do a lot more than keep the doctor away; they keep the hectic, chaotic and frustrating days away too!
That’s my peace today!

Mom's apple pie
CRUST
1/2 pack Crisco
1 cup water
1 cup sugar
6 cups flour
FILLING
6 peeled, cut spy apples
4 tbsp thinly sliced butter
3 tbsp sugar
1 tsp cinnimon (optional)

You will need a pie plate. Combine all ingredients for crust. Roll out to thin dough. Use half for bottom of pie plate, leave extra dough hanging off sides. Arrange cut apple slices, spread sugar and cinnimon (if using), place butter on top as well. Use other half of dough to cover apples, close sides with the top and bottom doughs by seeling together. Poke a few holes with a fork. Cover with foil, put in oven at 375 degrees for an hour. (remove foil last 15 minutes to make golden.)

We weren't born to follow

Although this is the new title song of Bon Jovi’s new album, I do believe in the words and what they mean. We were all brought into this world to make our own decisions, and we were taught that all decisions we make in our lives will affect people and our own lives. It can be a small decision or a very important one, the fact is, what we decide to do in our own lives will almost always affect others.

I was raised in an upper middle class family, I am second generation Italian. My parents taught me that in life, we have to go after what we want, and not to wait for anyone, or anything. My grandparents left their homeland with nothing more than $5 in their pockets, and built a new life in Canada. They built a very good life in Canada. They were not given any assistance or financial aid from anyone. . They learned the hard way, that if you want to eat, you need to work. There was not one day in their lives that they didn’t work hard every day. This dedication was then passed on to my parents. They were taught that money did not come easy, and nobody will help you get what YOU want.

Times have changed since then. We are able to get educated at any school in the world, we are able to visit any place in the world, and we are able to help anyone in the world. There are thousands of wonderful people that risks their lives in Africa, trying to help people that are dying, that are sick and that don’t have anything to eat or drink. These people dedicate their lives in helping others. My hat goes off to them. We all have charities that we belong to, or we donate too. My charity is Sick Kids in Toronto. I have 4 children and I cannot imagine if any one of them were to ever need the service at this hospital. They are a renowned hospital; they dedicate their lives in helping kids. Recently, I just became aware that the former President of Sick Kids Michael O'Mahoney, decided to leave after working there for over 6 years, where he earned $600,000 a year. He was given a severance package of $2.7 million dollars as a good gesture, for all the hard work he did in his years there. He apparently doubled the charity dollars from $43 million in 2003, to $98 million in 2008. Call me blonde, but wasn’t that his job? Wasn’t his job to boost charity dollars? Wasn’t that what he was getting paid to do? I and many other people were very angry hearing this news. I felt cheated and robbed. I am still going to donate every month as always, because it makes me feel like I am doing something. I just don’t understand how they can justify their actions?

Every day people walk, run, give blood, raise funds, hold silent auctions, host charity events, from the goodness of their hearts. They spend their own time, their own money and use all the resources they have to help others. They are not looking for anything in return; just hope. The hope that what we do will help, even just a little. We are not looking to get compensated from anyone, we don’t even want a tap on the back. We are humans helping humans. We are compassionate and selfless. We all want to do what we can to help another person; another cause. Does this mean that we should expect pay outs, or rewards? Shouldn’t the rewards be the positive results and the lives being saved? I guess I am just naïve to believe that these Presidents at these hospitals, actually care about helping the sick children. I guess I am naïve to believe, that they care about getting new equipment to help saving children’s lives. I guess I am naïve to believe that the nurses and doctors’ who put their blood, sweat and tears into caring for their patients deserve more money. I guess I am naïve to believe that we were born to be leaders and to fight injustice, and that we weren’t born to follow.
That’s my peace today!

Spagetti with Cherry Tomatoes
1 pack cooked spagetti
2 packages of cherry or grape tomatoes
1/2 cup olive oil
1 bunch chopped basil
1 finely chopped garlic
salt to taste
1 tbsp oregano

Put cooked pasta aside. In a bowl mix tomatoes, oil, garlic, basil, salt and oregano. Once tossed well, pour onto spagetti. This may be eaten cold or warm.

Mother's don't wear white, even after Labour Day

Ever since I became a mother, I haven’t been able to wear white, or any light colours. It’s like a bull’s eye target. As soon as I attempt to put on a white top or white pants, I know that I will not be able to wear it, past 1 hour. The harder you try to keep it clean, the faster it gets dirty. Kids are all over the place; on your lap; on your shoulder; and on your legs. They always have something on their face, hands, even on their own clothes, that seem to transfer to your clothes. I don’t even notice stains anymore, I can walk out of the house not knowing that I have milk or goober stains on my top. My top is a human tissue for them.

I remember when I was much younger, not married, no kids, I heard some woman saying that kids eating a lollipop were disgusting, “stay away from a kid that’s sucking a lollipop, it is just a nightmare” she said. I thought to myself, “ok lady, talk about exaggerating.” Now that I am a mother, I think she was underestimating the term “nightmare”. Have you ever been next to a kid sucking a lollipop? Sticky, sticky, sticky. You need 10 wipes just to clean it off their hands, your hands, their face, your face, and then after about 10 minutes, your fingers are still sticking together because you missed a spot. When I see desperate mothers trying to shut up with their kids with a lolly, I really want to tell them the tantrum is less painful then the uncomfortable feeling of sticky. Popsicles, that’s all I have to say. Popsicles are another parent clean clothes “challenge”. What situation can be so bad, that you give your kid a popsicle to suck on? All you get is drips of colour down their hands, arms, sleeves and face. All that remains, are puddles of melted coloured ice and a crying kid because they didn’t get to enjoy it, the ice melted faster than they could eat.

Sometimes I see mother’s “trying” to look like women..lol. They attempt to wear heels when they go out with their strollers; they are pushing their kiddies with their grande non-fat latte. I guess it’s because sometimes we just don’t want to accept the fact that we cannot wear anything but flats anymore. We look forward to special events for the opportunity to put make-up on, get our nails done, wear tight light colour clothes, and a nice pair of high heeled shoes. It’s pretty hard to be sexy when you have a pair of tights on, runners and your hair pulled back. We try; we buy Lulu lemon tights and Puma runners to look trendy, we get our eyebrows threaded and we get our highlights done. In the end, we are mothers pushing our babies. We carry Wet One wipes, boxes of tissue, band-aids, prepared milk bottles, rattles, diapers, and an extra set of baby clothes; because we know we have too. We know that if we don’t go out prepared, than we will have to drive back home. We know that we want to go out, more than our babies do. We know that we are the ones who enjoy our chit chats and cups of coffee with our other mother friends. We know that kids are dirty, kids are sticky, kids are messy and kids are snotty. We know that we have no choice but to wear dark clothing, flat shoes, and carry large diaper bags. We know that when you become a mother, it doesn’t matter if it’s June, July or August; mothers don’t wear white, even after Labour Day.
That’s my peace today!

Zucchini Lasagna
2 extra large zucchini or 8 small ones
1 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella
salt for taste
2 cups cooked tomato sauce
3/4 c breadcrumbs
1/4 olive oil
1 egg

Slice zucchini long way, salt and put aside. Once water has come out of zucchini, dip in egg and then in breadcrumbs. Put breaded slices on pan in oven, drizzle olive oil on all slices, and bake for about 20 minutes at 375 degrees. In a 8x10 baking pan pour a little bit of sauce to coat bottom, arrange zucchini to cover bottom, top with sauce and cheese.(Like a lasagna) Continue steps until you get to top. Cover with foil and bake at 385 degrees for 45 minutes.

Read the owner's manual first

Are women as complicated as men think we are? I say, absolutely not. We know what we want and we make it very clear to anyone who will listen. We don’t over analyse, we just think hard about every situation. We get offended easily and feel overly sensitive for good reasons. Maybe men may think it is not an issue when a friend goes out with another, without inviting us too, but we think it is. We will talk about and cry about it. We will wonder why they went out, without calling us. We will sit there, think about word by word from the last conversation, and try to figure out, why we were not called. Men will just find out that their friends are out, grab their keys, and meet them there. They don’t care that they were not called, they are just happy there’s a few guys, having some beer and wings.lol.

Women are wired in a very delicate manner. I see the differences in my kids. My daughter will cry if you accidently hurt her feelings; my son, could care less. He just wants to watch hockey, or play his games. A boy does not grow up planning his wedding, or designing his wedding dress, or dreaming of an engagement ring. A boy pretty much, plays sports, cops and robbers, wrestling, and X-Box. They are not giggling with their friends over the girl in their class, or dreaming of the day they become a daddy.lol. Boys are simple, they are not hard to read or understand. What you see, is what you get. They don’t overanalyse, get offended over little things, and don’t care if you don’t remember their birthdays. A boy (as we all know) turns into a man, his body changes, but his personality does not.

Men and women will never think the same, and I say, thank God for that. If my only mission in life was to eat, drink beer, and get some booty, then life would be smooth sailing. I am glad that I have the ability to cry over the “little” things, that may not mean anything to anyone else, but me. I am glad that I can hug, and kiss my children in public and shout, “I love you honey” in front of the kids at school. I am also glad that I get to plan ahead, and not wait for the last minute, because that makes me feel organized. I am glad that I am a woman. I am not hard to read; I am not speaking a foreign language; and I am not over analysing anything. I am using my intellectual brain, I am using my emotional brain. I am not exaggerating, and I am not over indulging. I am a woman, and that is who I am. There is no need for instructions; there is no need for a map. You have to read more than just the title of the book, open the pages; make some notes and read the “Coles” version, if you have too. We are not as complicated as you think, it’s just that sometimes, you may have to read the owner’s manual before you get started.
That’s my peace today!

Osso Bucho
6 pieces of Veal Shank or Osso bucho
1/2 jar tomato sauce
1/2 cup red wine
1 chopped white onion
2 stems chopped celery
3 carrots chopped
salt and pepper to taste
3 springs of parsley

In a roasting pan, place meat salt and pepper both sides. Toss all vegies in a bowl and salt and pepper it. Add 2 tbsp oil. Pour veggies on top of meat. Add sauce and wine and parsley. Cover and cook at 425 for 1 hour and half. Lower oven to 385 degrees for another 1 hour and half.

"Is that just something old people say?"

Over the weekend, I celebrated my 35th birthday. Unlike some people, I have no problem telling people how old I am. Birthdays never really bothered me. Not even my 30th, it passed without a flinch. But now I am 35. The age that carries certain labels. “You can’t wear mini- skirts after this age, you can’t smoke and take the pill at this age, amnios are recommended at this age, and worst of all, my “bracket” has changed. I am no longer 25-34, I have moved to the 35-44 bracket. Wow! This is a lot to take in, all in one day. How can my life change so dramatically all at once?

You have the older people, saying “oh I remember when I was 35; you’ll see how fast it will pass”. Then you have the really old people saying “OMG, you’re still a baby”. Then there are the youngins, “ 35?, that’s kinda old”..lol. So everyone pretty much has their own take on the age 35.

I personally, am embracing my new age. I am now in my mid 30’s, and so far it’s not so bad. Sure, I woke up with a sore throat, achy bones, and a runny nose, but the point is, I woke up. I have passed my; baby years; my toddler years; my child years ;my teenage years; and my 20’s. I am continuing my life journey in my 30’s and so far, it’s not so bad. I don’t look at young chicks in their 20’s and wish I was them. I WAS them, and now I am not. I went through all the things 20 year olds go through, it was fun while it lasted, but it’s done, and I am ok with that. I am ok with the fact that I cannot wear a mini skirt anymore, or that I can’t wear anything that shows my stomach. Even though sometimes I find myself saying things like, “OMG, the music today is just not like when I was growing up” or “I don’t know how these girls have all that energy, aren’t they tired?”..lol

People judge your age by what you “have”. I hear it all the time, “Oh your only 35 and you have 4 kids” or “You don’t look 35, you look like your 27”. The point is, we should not define who we are with how many kids we have, or how young we look. We are who we are because of the years we passed. The experience we have gained along the way, and the stories and memories we have made. That is part of life; part of our journey. We all strive to be “old”, and get to that place in life, where we begin to see wrinkles, and fine lines. Those lines were made because of smiles, laughing, some frowns and sometimes from tears.

If age was only a number, than that means our journey of all the days we spend on this earth are done in vain. How can we not treasure each day we wake up and say “Hey, I’m alive”. Age is not a number; age just lets people know how many days we lived on this earth, and why we are as experienced in certain things. “You’re only as old as you feel”, this is true, it is all about attitude and positive energy. I do believe that you should not make the year you were a born a focus in your daily life. I do not think you should feel upset about turning a year older, and I do not feel you should hide your age. Embrace who you are, when you were born and share it with people that are not there yet. Share your stories, your experiences and your knowledge. Share all the glory that life has to offer, all your wisdom, and you will truly be able to embrace yourself. I don’t feel sad that I am 35, I feel happy that I got here. That God has allowed me to reach this point. I don’t feel old, I feel 35; does what I am saying sound true? Or, is that just something old people say? lol
That’s my peace today!

Prociutto and Arugula Panini
1 Italian baguette or 6 Calabrese large panini
100 grams of Prociutto Parma
1 bunch washed arugula
1 package of provolone cheese
1 salted sliced tomato
olive oil for dressing
1 tbsp balsamic vinigar

Open bauguette, place prociutto in bun, add cheese. In a plate place arugula drizzle olive oil and balsamic vinigar and toss. Top cheese with arugula and then top with salted tomato slice. Close bun. You may grill if you have panini presser or you can eat as is.

We have the same parents

What can I say about sisters; I can’t live with them, I can’t live without them..lol. I think I just have too many.lol. Who can have 3 sisters in their life, and possibly survive all the spits, spats, and battles. The fights over clothes, the phone (back then we did not have our own cell phone), and the lack of space in the bathroom. Every shower I ever had, was timed by all 3 of them. Banging on the door, screaming, cursing and then threatening. Of course, my father would always get involved to try to calm the situation, and all he did was cause more aggravation. He would come up the stairs and start questioning each of us, like an interrogation. “What’s going on?” “Who was there first?”..bla bla bla. Then, my mother would yell from downstairs, telling him to stop getting involved, and to be like most men, and mind his own business. So of course, that would start an argument with them downstairs..lol.

Noise; there were always lots and lots of it. Even now in our adult life, we yell when we speak. My husband asks me why I yell when I speak, I get all confused and tell him, that’s just my voice. Growing up in a house with all women, you had to scream to be heard. We all speak on top of each other and that’s how we were heard. No one listens to the other; we all just try to get our own words in. We all have our own opinion on the way things should be done, sometimes even if we agree, we dispute it.

Sisters are great, but in moderation. The more we see each other, the less we like each other. We always find something to argue about, no matter what it is. It starts off with a little remark, then, the fangs come out. We just battle, gloves come off, and we go at it. We also love to insult each other. I think we find it hard to compliment, and if by some miracle, we do compliment, we automatically think she wants something. My father hated when we didn’t get along, he would give us this line, “My sisters never argued when we were growing up.” Ya, no kidding, they all left the house at 18, so by the time the “real” fights began, they were already mothers.

We were, and are, definitely not the Partridge family.lol. We did not sing together while looking, smiling, and hugging. I think the only time we come in close contact, is when we HAVE to kiss at Christmas.lol. But this does not mean that we do not absolutely love each other, and that we do not need each other. My sisters are my best friends. They are the 3 women that know me best. They are the 3 women who judge me least, and they are the 3 women who always have my “back”. They are the best gift my parents ever gave me (even more than the cash I get every Christmas..lol).

Siblings are special, and unique. I appreciate the fact that they are part of my life. My parents made sure that we always stuck together, and that we would never let anything or anyone come between us. We are very lucky that we all married men that just fit right in. It’s funny, because sometimes I will say something that one of my sisters did to upset me, and I tell my husband. If he dares agree with me and tells me that my sister was wrong, well then he’s getting a look of death from me. He then says, “What’s your problem? What did I say?” He doesn’t understand that I am allowed to talk about her, but HE’s not..lol.

That’s what sisters do. We fight hard, but we also love, just as hard. We stick up for each other against any “enemies” lol. Before I was ever a friend, a wife, or a mother; I was a sister. My 3 sisters taught me to laugh, giggle, share and open up. If you have a sister, then you know that there are no secrets, they read right through us. They know when we are sad, happy, and when we are pissed off at our husbands. And when we are pissed off at our husbands, they are right behind us, hating them too..lol.
My sisters have made me the person I am today. The memories we made, living in the same home, are sacred and precious, and are a part of all of us. There is not one day that goes by, that I don’t speak to them. We call each other 25 times a day, for absolutely nothing.
My parents can feel very proud that they raised us well. There is no jealousy or insecurities between us. We have a bond for life, that no one person can ever take away. We don’t just have the same cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents; we have the same parents; we are friends, but more importantly; we are sisters!

That’s my peace today!

Veal Scallopini with Red peppers and Onions
6 veal scallopini
1/4 cup flour
1/2 bottle of beer
1 package of mushrooms
1 white onion
1 red pepper
salt and black pepper to taste
oil for pan frying

Salt and lightly flour the veal, set aside. In a heated pan, pour about 4 tbsp of oil, fry the peppers, mushrooms and onions for 10 minutes. Put the veggies aside. Return pan to heat, add more oil to thinly coat the pan. Add the veal and brown each side (about 5 minutes each side). Add the beer and cook through for about 8 minutes or until beer is dissolved. Add the veggies back in the pan and cook with the veal for another 3 minutes. Place veal on a platter and top with the veggies.

Mary

This morning at 1:00am, Mary passed away. She fought as hard as she could, but in the end, she lost her battle to cancer. Today, please include her family in your prayers. Pray that they have the strength to heal. Pray that they will remember her as a daughter, a sister, a wife, and a mother. Please pray for her 2 little boys, that they will remember what a great mother she was. Pray for her husband, that he has the strength to raise his sons. Pray for her 2 brothers, that they will not forget the bond and love of their only sister. Please pray for her mother and father, no one person EVER wants to bury a child, please pray for their strength.

Today, I am asking you to please hug, kiss, love and appreciate every person in your life. We sometimes take life for granted. Every morning that we wake up, it is our job and duty to be grateful for each day we are about to enjoy. I know we only think of these things when something bad happens, or when something or someone is taken away, but if we remember everyday that we are loved and we love, then at least we know that we have taken in, all that life has to offer.

Today, we have all lost a sister, God has taken his child back. Her journey on earth has ended, and she will now begin her life in Heaven. She will be the protector of her family, her little boys now have their own Angel; their mother Mary.

Rest in peace Mary, you have joined God today, but just know, many people will miss you!

That's my PEACE today!

I am not just a mother-in-law, I am a mommy

When a woman has a son, there is a connection that begins from the second he is born. My son is my oldest and he “made” me a mom. Before he came into this world, I was a wife, I then became, a mommy. I never really knew that I even wanted a son. I grew up with so much estragon, that I just assumed I would not be able to handle any testosterone in my life. We didn’t find out what we were having, so I was amazingly surprised when Joseph was born over 8 years ago. He was my new best friend, the little man that blessed my mornings, my afternoons, and my middle of the night. From the moment he was born we had fun together. He made a trip to the bank, a pleasure. He got lots of attention, and I was always eager to show him off. His big green eyes made all the old ladies melt. His smile would light up a room, and he was my little boy.

From the beginning, I planned his life. I was determined not to allow him to join any “rough” sports. Hockey was definitely not in the future for MY son. I could not imagine him playing a contact sport that he may get hurt doing. I could not picture my precious little boy getting pushed or poked while he was on sharp skates, on a hard, cold ice floor. I expressed my worries to my husband, and well you can imagine his reaction (he is from Montreal;they eat hockey for breakfast..lol) He thought I was crazy, and signed him up when he was 6, he has been playing since.

A woman falls in love when she has a son. It is like no love you can ever have. There is the love of a father, the love of a husband, and then there is the love of the boy you brought into this world. He looks at you for love and attention. He knows you will run around the world for him and protect him from any harm. He knows you will love him and care for him until you’re dying day.

When you marry your husband, most of the time, you don’t understand the emotions his mother feels when he “leaves” her nest. You look at him and think he is “mommy’s little boy” and that he needs to toughen up and cut the cord. We poke and make fun of them, and tease them when they call her, and miss her. The truth is; we don’t realize what the connection is, until we have our own son. Then, it is us that baby our boys, hug them, kiss them and adore them. We realize only then, that our mother-in-laws knew about the bond, way before we were around. They were the ones that woke up with them in the middle of the night when they were sick, they were the ones that cleaned their cuts and scrapes, and they were the ones that felt the pain more, when they didn’t make the team. Only then do we realize the love of a mother for her son.

I was introduced to the Robert Munch book “Love you Forever” many years ago. I read it to my baby cousin almost every day. When I would read it, I didn’t really appreciate the words. Now, I can’t even pass the second page without shedding a tear. It touches my heart and soul and plays with my emotions. I read it to my son, and he knows that is “our” book. He smiles, thinks it’s cute, but he doesn’t really get it. He doesn’t understand “I love you forever, I’ll like you for always, as long as I’m living, my baby you’ll be.” Those words are deep and true.

One day my 2 boys will hopefully begin their own life, with a wife and eventually their own kids. I pray that I will be around to see them become parents. I pray that I will witness the bond they will eventually share with their own children. I also pray that their wives will look at me as the woman who raised them, loved them, cared for them and nurtured them. I pray that these women will see me as more than just a mother-in-law, but as their husbands’ mommy.
That’s my peace today!

Roasted Chicken and Potatoes
6 chicken legs (back attached)
7-8 potatoes
4 carrots
1 onion
15 pitted green olives
4 cloves of garlic
salt and pepper
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup breadcrumbs
2 tbsp dried rosemary

You will need a 13x9 roasting pan.
Wash chicken and pat dry. Peel potatoes, onion and carrots and chop into large pieces. Place carrots, onions, and potatoes in the pan. Beside the veggies, place the chicken. Salt and Pepper generously on all the food, toss with your hands to make sure you salted everything. Pour olive oil to generously on all the food. Spread olives and garlic on chicken only. Sprinkle the dried rosemary on both chicken and veggies. Once you are almost ready to place in over,sprinkle breadcrumbs (almost rubbing) on the chicken.
Cover with foil and place in oven at 410 degrees for 1 hour and half. Remove foil the last 20 minutes to brown and crisp.

We love you, just leave us alone!

If you are a married woman, then I am almost positive your husband has asked you many, many, times, why are you so tired? Or why are you always upset? Or why are you yelling at the kids? I can go on and on. I don’t know about you, but when my “better half” asks me something like that, I have visions of paper cutting his whole body and throwing vinegar on the cuts..lol. You see, men are pretty much all the same. I don’t care if your man is French Canadian, German, Irish or Italian. A man is a man. They are all cut from the same “man” cloth and they all behave the same. I am not trying to man bash, but sometimes, it has to be done.lol.

Growing up in a household of all girls, I did not know all the little warnings of a man. The only man in my house was my dad, and him being surrounded by his 3 sisters, then his wife and 4 daughters, he eventually became “one of us”. I can tell you, when I got married, I was shocked! The whole toilet seat thing, the dirty socks on the floor, the drinking from the milk carton, and the unwelcoming odours that vaporize the air every once in a while. Then the nagging began..lol. I had heard of the term, but never really was accused of being one, until I got married. You want to know why women nag???? Because we have too! If men would listen the first time, then we would NOT have to repeat ourselves over and over. How many times do I have to ask someone to please not leave their wet towel on the bed, because it will wet the mattress? Or how many times do I have to politely ask, please do not leave breadcrumbs on the counter after I just finished cleaning the kitchen? And how many times do I have to remind someone we have a dishwasher, please use it! This is why we must repeat, and repeat and repeat. Most of the time, I get sick of hearing my own voice. Yes, men feel the stress of making sure he is the provider, the support, the bread winner, and the “heads of the home”. Their famous line is “honey, I work you know.” I am not sure if you have ever stayed home with children all day long?? That is more of a job than anyone can possibly imagine. All day care, comfort and cuddles. Our minds are racing, moving from one thought to the next. It begins from the second we wake up; make the lunches, fix the beds, make breakfast, drive them to school, come home, tidy up, do laundry, clean the house, prepare dinner, go pick the kids up, make dinner, clean the kitchen, homework, bath time, bedtime and then start again the next day. Men; wake up, shower, clean their ears, cut their toenails, get dressed, grab a coffee (that we made), put on their shoes, drive to work. Not are men are like that, some pick up their coffee at Tims..lol.

My point is, mothers are the foundation of the home, the “wizards” behind the curtain, we are the anchor. We must be organized, tough, and sensitive all at the same time. We have more than sex on our mind (most of the time, it is the last thing) why? Because sometimes we are tired, grumpy, frustrated and moody. We work hard every day, and if we want to be in a bad mood, or cranky or snappy, then just let us be. We sometimes want to be miserable, unhappy, ungrateful and dissatisfied. When we feel like that, don’t ask us if we are PMSing, or sick, or if we have a headache. Just smile, take the kids from us, make us a coffee, and stay away..lol. We are women and mothers, sometimes we want to be left alone, and we want to sip our coffee while reading a magazine too! We want to be able to take a shower without a hundred little knocks on the door. Sometimes, we just want to hear ourselves think. So, when you see that we need this time alone, my suggestion to all the husbands out there; leave your questions, concerns or comments in the suggestion box, and when we feel like it, we will get back to you. Until then, we love you very much, just leave us alone!
That’s my peace today!

Canelloni with ricotta, spinach and meat
1/2 pound minced veal
1/2 white onion chopped
1 package of baby spinich
1/2 tub ricotta
1 egg
1/4 cup grated parmesan
4 large springs basil and parsley
1 jar cooked tomato sauce
1 cup shredded mozzarella
salt to taste
12 shells of canelloni

Wash spinach, pat dry. In a food processor, combine spinach, ricotta, basil and parsley and egg. Blend until mixed and spinach is finely chopped. Remove and place in bowl. Sautee meat in a pan with onion, salt and cook until no longer pink. Add cooked meat to ricotta mixture, add parmesan, 1/4 cup of mozzarella and 3/4 cup of cooked tomato sauce. Mix all together.
Stuff mixture in uncooked canelloni tubes, place on baking pan. Top with the rest of the sauce and mozzarella. Bake at 400 degrees for about 1 hour (when pasta is cooked and soft).

Forget about X-Box, what about clean water?

I was watching the news last night, and as much as I hate to do that, I did. All I saw (not unusual) was “bad” news. Things that are depressing, sad, and things, we just don’t want to hear. Killings, bombs, suicide this, and military that. Concerns about peace, safety, and lack of both. The news informs us of what is out there, beyond our front door. It takes us away from our little “safety” place, we call home. It tells us that people are killing each other, themselves and their planet. It also informs us that persons in politics are robbing us blind, and there is not one thing we can do about it. It also tells us, that we have no control on what people or “mother nature” does.

Last night, I learned that there are hundreds of people that died from a flood in South East Asia. I also learned that more people died in a small village from a Tsunami. Terrible, isn’t it? Yes, we can think so from here. We can think that from watching it on our 52 inch plasma tv, from our $4000 couch, in our half a million dollar home, but do we really feel it? No, we don’t, and thank God for that. Our biggest worry in Canada is, do I bring an umbrella today or not. In the morning, I turn on BT and find out if Frankie Flowers is telling my kids to wear a thick coat or a rain coat. I worry that my kids may be late for school, I make sure they have brushed their teeth and brushed their hair. I make sure that their clothes are clean and neat, and that their lunch is packed in their bag.

Today is picture day at school, so I made sure my daughter and my son were dressed well and “pretty”. Pick tails in my daughter’s hair and my son, with his Mohawk. Little do they know that there are children out there that can’t go to school, or don’t have clean water to brush their teeth, let alone drink it. Little do they know, there are children in the world that do not own a pair of shoes, or clothes that fit them. We try our best as parents to teach them gratefulness and appreciation, just like our parents did with us. I remember my mother saying to me “There are starving kids in Africa, finish your food!” At the time, to me, it didn’t mean much. I try to teach my kids that they have to appreciate and be grateful. I tell them that not all kids have more than 1 pair of shoes, and that most of them don’t even know what a DVD player is. They tell me they understand what I’m saying, but I know they don’t. They just learn what they see and what they live. They live in a world of abundance and material value. They live in a world of LaCoste and Diesel. They live in a world of Playstation, X-Box and WII. It’s not their fault that they don’t realize that some kids don’t have games to play with, and that these kids wake up every morning not knowing if today, they will have clean water to drink!
That’s my peace today!

Risotto with Meat Sauce
1/2 pack arborio rice
3/4 cup shredded mozzarella
1-2 cups of Bolognese sauce (Miced meat sauce)
salt to taste

In a saucepan, boil rice as directed. Drain and cool slightly. In a bowl combine rice, mozzarella and sauce. (It should be saucy). Put in a 8x10 baking pan, cover with foil (You can top with more mozzarella if you want cheesy). Cook for 30 minutes at 385 degrees.